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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0380.PDF
(7UGHT| area, and he, when challenged on the inaccuracy of his figures, did not deny my total, bat declared that his reply was according to instructions. It was in the particular area which this constable was to?d off to guard that I obtained an entirely different total of deaths. " To complete this correspondence for purposes of publication, it is advisable that I should visit in person or by representative the places raided, so as to obtain further corroborative evidence for your benefit. " I have therefore the honour to request that I may be furnished by your department with such permits as will allow me or any one responseie person agreed upon, to conduct on the spot, with the assistance of the local authorities, full inquiries into the true state of affairs, without the possible inconvenience of being arrested on some frivolous charge under the Defence of the Realm Act. " I trust that the result of such inquiries will justify me in assuring the British public that present official policy is well advised, and that I may thus be instrumental in regaining for the Government that public confidence which the ever-increasing mass of my corre spondence indicates to be grievously lacking. " Sincerely yours, "N. PKMBBRTON BILLING." M*v 4, 1916. "Home Office, Whitehall, S.W., April 26th. " Dear Mr. Pemberton Billing,—I waited from last Saturday, when my previous letter to you was sent by hand, until to-day (Wednesday), before sending the coirespondence to the Press, but not receiving any answer I assumed that you did not propose to add anything and did not demur to publication, and it was accordingly issued to the Press Bureau. Subsequently I received your letter, which, although dated April 24th from the Temple, did not reach me until this evening. *' No facts have yet been advanced which would furnish ground for any official inquiry into the statistics of deaths from Zeppelin raids, and I fear I cannot see my way to confer upon you the authority of a Government Commissioner for the purpose of such an investigation. If, however, you will inform me what is the area in X to which you refer in your letter, what is the total of deaths which you describe as ' my total,' the date of your conversation with the policeman and (if passible) his number, I will be glad to make inquiries in the locality. " Should you desire it, the remainder of the correspondence shall be sent to the Press. " Yours sincerely, " HERBERT SAMUEL." ® ® ® ® MR. PEMBERTON BILLING AT THE ALBERT HALL. THERE was a large gathering at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday to hear an address by Mr. Pemberton Billing, M.P., in connection with his Imperial Air Convention campaign. In the course of his remarks he said that the only way to deal with Zeppelins is to attack them where they are built and housed, and the reason why he had started the Imperial Air Convention was to enable the nation to force the Government to build sufficient air craft to regain the supremacy of the air, and take a vigorous offensive against the enemy. " What is the money cost of air supremacy?"he said. "The cost of seven days' war." It was impossible to create the necessary air service by merely amalgamating the aerial equipment and personnel of the Navy and Army. He paid tributes to the Navy and the Army, and said that those branches of the Forces would need aviators for reconnaissance and observing, but there must be a new service for fighting in the new element. The war came and we were unprepared. A policy of rapid building was begun, and although for the first few weeks, through our splendid personnel, we had the supremacy of the air, we loss it through neglect. We were now a third-class Air Power. Ger many was first and France second. If this war went on for another twelve months, he should be surprised if the final blow was not struck from the air. 9 ® It was time to take the conduct of the war out of the hands of the politicians and place it in the hands of soldiers, sailors and and statesmen. His plan was an Imperial Council of Nine. Let there be a man from Canada—Borden for choice ; a man from South Africa ("Bjtha"), and a man from Australasia (" Hughes "). Let there be a sailor, a soldier, and an airman also. To these he would add, as representatives of the people at home, a Liberal, a Conservative, and a Labour man. This war council might form a Committee of the House of Commons for various purposes. Their aim should b: to secure for this country the same supremacy in the air as our forefathers had secured for it on the sea. If the peace terms did not contain a provision giving us control of the German means of providing an air service, we should be a damned nation in ten years' time. The nation that was supreme in the air would in future dictate to the world. The following resolution was adopted :— "This meeting, convinced that the safety and welfare of the British Empire depend in a great measure on supremacy in the air, pledges itself to use every effort to attain and maintain for this country an Imperial Air Service worthy of its Imperial power." ® ® PERSONALS. Casualties. Lieutcrlant ALAN WILMOT DAVIES, R.F.A., killed on Easter Sunday, April 23rd, aged 20, was the younger son of Mr. J. H. W. Davies, of 25, St. John's Park, Blackheath. Educated at Stratheden House, Blackheath, and Wellington College (Comber- mere Dormitory), he passed into the R.M.A , Woolwich, in January, 1914, and obtained a commission in the R.F.A. in Jovember, 1914. In May, 1915, he went to the front, and later, having qualified as an observer in the R F.C., he was sent out again to the frost in July. He came home in November and obtained his flying certificate, and was qualifying for his wings when he was killed. Second Lieutenant JAMBS EDWARD HULTON FREEMAN, Royal West Surrey Regiment and R.F.C., who was killed on April 24th, aged 19, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hulton Freeman, of The Unit, Walton-on-Thames. Second-Lieutenant JOHN MII.NKK, R.F.C., aged a6, whos; death has been reported, was the youngest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. T. M ilner, of Darlington. Djath was the result of wounds received in action. He was formerly assistant chemistry master at Darling ton Grammar School. As a lad he won a scholarship at the Beaumont Street School, becoming a pupil at the Grammar School, where he won further scholarships. He afterwards taught for a year at the Gurney Pease School, and then went to Armstrong I allege, where he obtained his B.Sc. degree. He was assistant mister at Darlington Grammar School three years, and then secured the position of science master at Purley Grammar School, where he wis at the outbreak of the war. Lieutenant WARREN COLECLOUGH PEMBERTON, of the Canadian Infantry and the R.F.C., who was killed on April 25th, aged 20 years, was the second son of Mr. E. B. Pembertra, of Victoria, 34 years, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Saw, of 17, Glenluce Road, Blackheath. He was educated at Blackheath Schoal and in the training ship "Worcester." Before the war he was a navigating officer (first officer) in the Eastern Telegraph Company's service, and held a master's certificate. After the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in the R.N.R., and was present at the bombardment and taking of Duala. At the beginning of 1915 he joined the Royal Naval Air Strvice, and became an experienced pilot. In October last he married Harvey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. MacLennan, of Grainbank, Kirkwall. Wounded. , Captain DANIEL HARRISON MACDONSLL, D.S.O., Highland Light Infantry, reported wounded, is a son of the late Mr. James Macdonell, of Glengarry, and was born in 1875. He served in the Ssuth African War, getting the Queen's medal with five clasps, and in the Kana Soto Campaign of 1906, when he was wounded, got the medal with clasp, and was also awarded the D.S.O. He also took part in the expulsion of the Germans from the Cameroons, being again wounded. Captain Macdonell was early last year appainted a Flying Officer in the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, and ia December last was made a Captain in the Highland Light In'antry. Married and to be Married. A marriage has been arranged, and will take place shortiy. a* Ulverston, between Flight-Commander JAMES WILLIAM OGILVV DALGLEISH, R.N.A.S., Lieutenant R.N., only son of Captwn James Ogilvy Dalgleish and of Mrs. Ogilvy Dalgleish, of Gkj*' lands, Wokingham, and grandson of the late Captain James Ogi'T Dalgleish, R.N., of Woodburne, Fife, and SYBIL GOINBVBI.* BUTLER, younger daughter of M YLES KENNEDY and of Mrs. M YLSS KENNEDY, of Stone Cross, Ulverston. Items Flight Sub-Lieutenant ARTHUR CONNORTON SAW, R.N., who •was killed on Good Friday in a seaplane accident, at the age of The promotion to Lieutenant of Second Lieutenant GILBSRI a. M. INSALL, V.C., Royal Flying Corps, is announced in the London Gazette. 380
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