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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0212.PDF
\fiMl •ince the Herts election result was announced, there has been a distinct revival in the activities of the air units at the front, where quite appreciable com bined attacks have been carried out by the R.F.C, with what appear to be substantial results. We shall look forward to some similar tactics by the R.N.A.S. before long, and for these and other moves to utilise our air offensive in a spirit more in keeping with British ideas of aggression, we think the recent agitations, resulting in the very strong warning to the Government through the Herts election, can reasonably lay claim. Mr. Pemberton-Billing was to take his seat in the House of Commons on Tuesday of this week, introduced by Sir Henry Dalziel and Mr. Ronald M'Neill. Although the maiden speech of new M.P.'s is not expected, for various reasons, to be of an epoch-making character, in the case of " P.-B." a more than usually interesting result may be anticipated as his subject is a very definite one, and time being a very essential factor in the problem of supremacy in the air the public will look to the newly- elected representative of East Herts that no time is wasted in getting down to business. In congratulating Mr. Pem berton-Billing upon his plucky and successful fight against such heavy odds, we sincerely trust that now he has attained the object which, such a very short time ago, he set out to achieve, the atmosphere of the House will not act as a soporific upon his energies, but that we shall see his demand for attention to air supremacy so insisted upon, that even the Coalition Government cannot afford to delay, with platitudinous excuses, the time when they are prepared to recognise the mandate which exists in the country for a more defined and single-purpose air-policy. One thing ready to his hand for seeing that justice is done, is as to the treatment under present circumstances which is to be meted out to the highly valuable flying schools. Under the Military Service Act all sorts of complications may arise which, if allowed to go too far, may mean setting back in a serious degree the splendid work which these establishments have been and are doing. See to it, " P.-B.," without delay that such a disaster is not allowed to eventuate. Official minds are over slow to grasp a novel situation until it is too late. * • • In the In thC Upper House hitherto, the attention Lords. given to matters of 'he Air has not been as prominent as might have been expected, but on Thursday of last week any past slackness in this direction was more than compensated for in the quiet but ® ® The New Air Committee. MR. MACNAMARA, Secretary to the Admiralty, made the following announcement in the House of Commons on Tuesday:— The Joint War Air Committee is constituted as follows : Chairman, the Earl of Derby ; Admiralty representatives, Rear-Admiral C. L. Vaughan Lee, Commodore Murray F. Sueter, C.B., and Squadron Commander W. Briggs, R.N.; War Office representatives, Major-General Sir D.' MARCH 16, 1916. masterly handling of this very vital subject by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. His speech and statements of fact, by their very moderation, were much more convincing to his listeners than many of the verbose and drum- thumping campaigns in the other House. Neither noise nor abuse constitute argument, and by their avoid ance Lord Montagu scored heavily. It was felt that sincerity guided his policy, and this attitude brought into sympathy with him many who might otherwise have resented what might be viewed as an aggressive attack upon the Coalition Government. We regard the Lords' debate of such importance in this much-discussed difference of opinion, as to the creation of an Air Ministry, that we reproduce the speeches of members and the Government's reply elsewhere in full. There are signs that the Ministry is beginning to recognise the necessity for acceding to the call for a Minister of the Air, and although it may cause in a measure an upheaval of working arrangements in certain directions, in the end we think it will be wise for the step to be taken sooner rather than later. That Lord Derby, with the continuous call upon his time and energies by the disentangling of the recruiting problem, can devote sufficient time to the air question, even in the limited sphere which has been defined for the Co-ordi nation Committee to work in, is open to very grave doubt. The restrictions upon the scope of the Com mittee are altogether too great and may possibly only lead to confusion worse confounded. It is better for the country that the Third Service should be created speedily, and we can see only minor difficulties— and those of a character that should never have had place given them—to be overcome for such a departure in our national affairs to work smoothly. " One Element, one Service" is a good slogan to have put forward, and now that Lord Montagu has placed his hand to the plough, and has more or less received public blessing and approval of his procedure from the men who matter, we shall hope to see a distinct move forward to the desired end. In that case the E. Herts vacancy will not have been contested in vain. In the words of the Daily Telegraph, which can hardly be classed amongst the hysterical press : " The hour has struck when the Government must recognise the importance of this ques tion. They have hitherto treated aviation as ' a side show.' The problem of the air is something far different. . . . . The command of the air may prove as essen tial to us as the command of the sea. We must be supreme in the upper element if we are to conserve our position afloat and give our armies a fair chance." ® ® Henderson, K.C.B., D.S.O., and Lieutenant-Colonel E. L. Ellington. Advisory members may be added as required. The secretariat consists of the secretary, Colonel Sir M. Hankey, and an assistant secretary, Major Storr, of the Committee of Imperial Defence. The functions of the Committee generally are to deal with matters of policy from the point of view of con struction and provision of material, for which a certificate as qualified pilot is not necessary.
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