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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0280.PDF
l/l»0"Tl heart of the British people more and more against any compromise with the hellish nation which has run amock in Europe, is at least one satisfactory outcome of the air raids, and we fancy that the visit to Scotland for the first time on Sunday night was extremely opportune in this connection, as having a very wholesome effect upon the views of the unpatriotic minority of Leith strikers, who have in recent days expressed themselves as indifferent whether they have as rulers their own kith and kin or the iron heel of the Hun. The haphazard bombing methods of the Germans brought directly home to them, have given them an opportunity to wonder if they are quite so sure there would be little difference. That one of the marauders has been accounted for this time may give the Germans pause. It is becoming evident that, like our naval blockade, the circle of safety for them is gradually being closed, and provided sufficient energy is maintained in countering their excursions, it should not be very long before these piratical visits become a thing of the past. Well-planned massed aero plane reprisal tactics against our enemies' centres of activity in addition should do more than anything to bring about a cessation of these inhuman methods of carrying on war. • • • Our reference last week to Dope poison- Dopea— ing troubles has brought us many com- Poisonous munications, showing the question is one Otherwise. °^ paramount interest. Moreover, in a letter which we produce under corre spondence, attention is drawn to a further case of Tetrachlorethane poisoning in the West Ham district. In dealing with this subject last week we had then no knowledge, nor have we now, what particular brand of dope was the cause of the trouble in that particular instance, and we are in the same position in regard to the case now reported from the London district. More over, we are not concerned directly or indirectly with any particular make. One thing, however, is certain, that there should not be one further day's use for these poison ous concoctions. The more so, as it is quite evident that there is little difficulty in supplying the needs of the trade from several quarters with a dope which is free from the objections now raised. Even the one advantage —greater life to the fabric—which, we suggested, the use of dope containing Tetrachlorethane gave, need not be considered, as it would appear from our correspon dent's letter that equal efficiency in this respect can be obtained with non-poisonous mixtures. One very serious fact has also emerged, and that is that this very obnoxious ingredient is contained in the "R.A.F." dope, known as D94, which we learn from several sources is being forced upon all manufacturers for use with machines made under Government specification. Further, it is sought, we understand, even to oblige manufacturers of aeroplanes who are supplying the services with very valuable machines of their own design, to use this particular dope. Nothing could be more reprehensible than this, as, to our positive knowledge, not only is non-poisonous dope being already used in certain directions, but there are several dopes which can be supplied in any quantities required,and more over the authorities know, or ought to know, of these. Proper steps have been taken to bring the advantages of these before those whom it should most concern, but up to the present no official sanction has been given by the authorities for their use. As the dopes permissible for use on Government aircraft are clearly specified by both the Naval and Military authorities—and these include APRIL 6, 1916. the R.A.F. dope D94, which contains the poisonous Tetrachlorethane—it is not possible for the non-poisonous solutions, referred to above, to be used until officially specified. Such a state of things should no longer be permitted, and although we do not suggest such an official crime as has been promulgated in Parliament lately, it is obvious that if some change is not quickly brought about there should be room for another enquiry as to the reason for such indifference to the loss of life and effect of this process upon the health of the workers whose particular lot falls to this branch of aeroplane making. Here is a clear case where the staff at the call of the Government should be employed in some other direction of far more value at the present time to the nation, as the manufacture and supply, about which there is not the slightest difficulty, of an article like aeroplane dope is a trade proposition pure and simple, and should be entirely outside the scope of such an establishment for experi ment and research as the R.A.F. In fact there is no reason why it should be handled by the R.A.F. at all. As to the statement of Mr. Brace in the House of Com mons on the 21st, in connection with the question by Mr. Rowlands regarding the Peterborough case, to the effect that "the obstacle to the use of non-poisonous dope is that one of the essential ingredients is not produced in this country at present in sufficient quantities to make it available for the purpose," this would appear to be not in accordance with fact. As we have pointed out above, there are manufacturers ready to supply non-poisonous dope, and the Government authorities know it. Why is it, therefore, that these manufacturers are not given the opportunity of substantiating their offers ? The suggested steps which are being taken to supply contractors with a dope made under W.O. supervision "which contains as little tetrachlorethane as possible," therefore, are entirely unnecessary and harmful. Commercial dopes are ready to hand without one particle of this pernicious ingredient, and there can be no earthly excuse for not employing them forthwith, and relieving the already overworked and overworried W.O. and other departments of all anxiety in this respect. Let them drop all attempts, under the abnormal war conditions existing, at surreptitiously grabbing a hold on commercialism—which can only have one meaning, viz., that there may remain when peace " breaks out," a semblance of a claim for vested interests in that direction. Then they will be able to devote every atom of their energies to getting on with the war. • • • That Mr. Pemberton-Billing appreciated Down* the false steP he had indulged in the previous week in Parliament, was fairly evident last week when he made his statement, and produced his " murder" evidence. As we said in our last issue, " P.-B." had sufficient facts to his hands to force drastic action in regard to developing the air service withoutjresorting to sympathy-wooing tactics as indulged in by him in his first attack. And so it turned out; the list of casualties leaving a very marked impression upon the Members of the House, and opening the way for strong support from a decided majority of the House. The suggestion for the appointment for a Committee was the best way out of a difficult quandary, as it would have been an unpleasant experience from several points of view, to have attempted free discussion of details—whatever they may be—in the general assembly of the House. A small Committee will no doubt be able to sift the bad and indifferent cases from the good, and we shall be surprised if a good many 280
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