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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0432.PDF
that fatal Parliamentary weapon—a count-out. The pity of it all is that whilst there is no doubt much more direct public interest has been focussed upon the trend of avia tion in the war, and the creation of a proper Air Depart ment has been brought much nearer, through the rousing up brought about by the recent agitation, "P.B." seems like missing most of the kudos and benefit attaching thereto, and to that extent he has our sympathy. That the same result and even more could have been obtained by more reasoned and well-balanced methods, under the cir cumstances of his dtbut into the Parliamentary world, there is little question. But for the regrettable consequences as they are, he has but himself to thank for having been so easily led astray by certain of his " nice new friends " with their rabid and poisonous advice. The voice was the voice of Billing, but Unfortunately, in its reflex action, it has in a way the making of a " tragedy " for the cause of aviation, but this outcome we devoutly hope will be after all avoided. There are now so many level headed men who are taking a hand in aerial develop ment, that it will take even more than the events of the past few weeks to stem for an instant the progress of this already great industry. But that the reverse is not the case, is hardly the fault ol certain irresponsible advocates who have proclaimed themselves so strenuously as the champions and saviours of all that is of the air. A last opportunity offers Mr. Billing the chance of redeeming his position in the eyes of the House and of the public by attending the adjourned meeting of the Committee of Inquiry to-day (Thursday) and making the best he can of his bargain. That he was overwrought when he bandied with the word " murder" most people are prepared to acknowledge. He has but to prove something much less than is embodied in his un sportsmanlike accusation to win back to himself a large measure of lost sympathy. By purging himself by frank confession of the misuse of the English language, he will lose no man's esteem, so long as he shows reason able excuse for his serious charges of past mal-adminis- tration. Clearly from the Prime Minister's short reply on Monday as to the non-expansion of the terms of reference to the R.N.A.S., Mr. Asquith is prepared to abide by any facts that can be produced in connection with the R.F.C., and this, as we have already pointed out, should more than suffice for attaining the object which has led up to the present tight corner. That there have been mistakes—perhaps pardonable in many cases—in the past is admitted. But the one big mistake was, as has been hammered in so often, the inability to earlier recognise the vital part which aviation was to play in this war and the future of the world. Fortunately other nations were not thoroughly convinced sufficiently long in advance either to give them any undue advantages, except Germany in regard to Zeps. And here they have distinctly scored, independently of any ® ® THE ROLL THE following casualties have been officially announced by the War Office :— Killed. Captain A. R. Tillie, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and R.F.C. Lieutenant E. J. Amor, Middlesex Regt. and R.F.C. Lieutenant T. Jones, Canadian A.S.C., attached R.F.C. 3994 1st Class Air-Mechanic S. Catton, Royal Flying Corps. Previously reported Missing, now reported Killed. Second Lieutenant W. G. Ijiwrence, Oxford and Bucks L.L and R.F.C. Died. Z-178 Air-Mechanic J. H. Cowie, Royal Flying Corps. Previously reported Missing, now reported Missing, believed Killed. Lieutenant J. R. Dennistoun, Canadian Divl. Cyclist Co., attached R.F.C. opinion as to the legitimacy of the raids over this country. That most of these mistakes have now been recognised here is equally certain, and they are being gradually set right. There is all the more reason, therefore, why mistakes should be admitted on both sides. Those ou the Government side show perhaps too much disposition to claim that there is no real ground for criticism either past or present against their work. Facts in this respect, however, point to the contrary. After allowing every latitude, the neglect to appreciate air tactics at their full value before and for some time after the war is clearly apparent, and the discussions in Parliament have served a national purpose in bringing the more glaring shortcomings into prominence. That the military air situation was saved at the opening of the war—and saved magnificently for this country—is entirely due to the British flying personnel, which made the best of what was available in material, what time the adminis tration this side was pulling itself together to tackle the problem in a spirit worthy of the country. What is now wanted is to get done with this Inquiry Committee as quickly as possiole and release one and all concerned—especially such men as General Henderson —for more immediately important work for the nation, and let the Air Board under its new rigime get to work with a will, so that no more time is wasted i* disputes and petty jealousies which militate so horribly against efficiency. Although the full composition of the Air Board is not yet announced, there is no reason why the new arrangement should not pan out success fully, by way of a makeshift. All that is required is the goodwill to make good, the crux of the whole position then resting, of course, upon the ability of Lord Curzon to attach to himself the right men. To want of judgment hitherto in this direction must be attributed most of the complications which have obsessed the Air Services. If the guiding principles in developing the best for the British Air Service are founded upon the views of the future expressed by Mr. Balfour in regard to the Navy, in his recent interview for the benefit of neutrals, there will be no fear of it being second air place for this country in a very short time. All that need be done is to bracket air-power with sea-power to the Anglo- Saxon ideals wherever expressed by Mr. Balfour, and the world will have for the next few hundred years the surest guarantee of peace that the greatest pacifist could demand. By this we do not mean that we are enamoured of the arrangement whereby the Board are still without any real power to act, and we are afraid, as at present constituted, that any differences of opinion will have to be reviewed by the same men sitting on the Board in their individual departments as advisers to the Government, and so the same old cul-de-sac stopping action being taken may arise. We sincerely hope it will not work out thus in practice. ® © OF HONOUR. Previously reported Killed, now reported Missing, believed Killed. Second Lieutenant E. G. Ryckman, Royal Flying Corps. Wounded. Captain E. W. Forbes, R. Warwick Regt., attached R.F.C. Lieutenant A. L. Findlay, Royal Flying Corps. Second Lieutenant R. M. Chaworth-Musters, Leicester Regt. and R.F.C. Previously reported Missing, now reported Wounded and a Prisoner. Second Lieutenant D. B. Gayford, R. \Y. Surrey Regt. and R.F.C. Missing. Captain D. Grinnell-Milne, R. Fusiliers and R.F.C.
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