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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0995.PDF
NOVEMBER 9, 1916. munitions shop, all distinctions go by the board. Each and every one is there to help along the boys—in how manv cases with the thought of one particular boy added—fighting the good cause in the trenches. WITH an insight into the conditions of munition factory workers, therefore, it does not come as a great surprise that an appreciative factory-hand audience, and a packed one at that, can be reckoned upon to listen in rapt enjoyment at the best musical numbers, as rendered by artistes of distinction. So it comes about that down away in Kent, the special theatre which Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., have erected for the sole present purpose of relieving the monotony of the munition workers' self-imposed task, is the scene of many an entertainment that would draw a big paying audience at Queen's Hall. The directors of the firm have thought with generosity ia supplying this great safety-valve against the strain of the war work going on, and last week the Vickers' employees, or as many as could be gotten into the theatre, had a special treat, in being able to listen to a delightful recital by the Russian pianist, M. Sapelinikofl. THE occasion was the more interesting as, by reason, no doubt, of Vickers' vast business connection with Russia, a party from the Russian Embassy was present in the balconv, whilst a presentation of a gold cigarette case to the Russian pianist by Count Ostrorog, a director of Vickers, Ltd., formed an agreeable interlude in the programme. M. Sapelinikofi's interpretation of the Russian and French pieces which he selected was not only appreciated by his mixed audience, but appeared to be thoroughly understood, so judiciously chosen has been the fare provided at the little theatre. Alto gether a very happy evening, varied by some songs from Miss Gladys Moger, the permanent pianist of the theatre, M«s Walker sympathetically accompanying the singer. A propos of Russia, the latest claimant to be the original in ventor of the " Tanks " is a native of that country, A. Porokhovtchikofi by name. But as the plans of his " land Dreadnought " were not submitted to the Russian Govern ment until August, 1915, he would appear to be about on a par with some of the claimants this side of the water. After the documents recently circulated by Mr. Macfie upon the subject, it will be interesting to see what some of the other suggestors of these fearsome beasts have to say in reply. STATE responsibility for aircraft damage is once more to the fore. We have little hope of any reversal of the policy hitherto in force, although a sop has been thrown by the recent consent of the Prime Minister to hear arguments upon the subject of loss of life from Zepp. raids. On the property insurance point Mr. Asquith has again refused to be inter viewed. THAT much appreciated " stoggy " bread of Winters, Ltd., referred to a week or two back in Capt. Challoner's letter from his Bavarian prisoner-of-war camp, does not after all appear to be so good by reason of its being a " home-made " article. We leara from Messrs. R. Winter, Ltd., of Birmingham, the A SPANISH VIEW ON OURSELVES—" Opening of the hunting season." (Campana de Gracia, Barcelona.) QFQGHf] makers, that it is a much rarer vintage than that. In fact, they have sent us a sample, ami we must confess ourscKes more than pleased with its qualities and we arc not surprised at it being sought after by our unfortunate men at present in durance vile in the land of the Huns Mr. Winter points out that the firm's bread is of quite a unique character, being a highly malted food, which has the property of keeping for a very long time under any reasonable conditions. OH ! those Zepps. A solicitor, defending a client sum moned upon a charge of milk adulteration recently, put up the novel defence that the cow that yielded the milk had been affected by a Zeppelin raid to such an extent that her milk had secreted a smaller proportion of solids than usual lx commenting upon this pump story, the writer of " A Londoner's Diary " in the Evening Standard holds forth as follows :— " This defence was derided at the time ; but there was something in it. I have learned from a medical friend that in a certain suburb of London, after a raid, the local medical men noted seven cases of women with infants at breast who had been so terrified that thev could no longer suckle their offspring, because their milk'had largely turned to .water under the influence of their fright. This physiological fact may be set to the credit ot some suspect milk dealers, but it would not be wise for them to build too much on it." We endorse the advice given in the last paragraph. The London magistrate is a contrary creature, anyway. LORD BERESKORD is of the " ton to ton " shipping brigade. Speaking at Edinburgh the other day, he said he was anxious about the enemy's submarine campaign, and advocated that we should tell the enemy that they would have to pay one ship or two for every one sunk if they went on with then campaign, and, if need be, we would take their whole mei cantile marine. Hear, hear ! TEN YEARS AGO. Excerpts from the " Auto." (" FLIGHT'S " precursor and sister Journal) of November 3rd, 1906. " FLIGHT " was founded in 1908. M. SANTOS DUMONT'S FLYING EXPLOIT. After two attempts in the morning, in which M. Dumont was apparently not satisfied with the speed attained on the ground, he went out again in the afternoon of October 23rd (after effecting a slight repair) at about half-past four. Then, after getting up a good speed on the ground, he slightly tilted the forward tail of the machine upwards, and without a hitch of any kind soared gradually upwards to about 5 metres above the earth, and maintained that elevation for a little over 60 metres at a speed of about 40 kilometres per hour, when, becoming nervous (and no wonder), he cut off the ignition, and the machine sank gradually without any particular suddenness to the ground . . It is satis factory to learn that M. Santos Dumont has himself become converted to the necessity of employing rudders behind, and we understand that his machine when it next appears will probably be equipped with one or more. When asked how he proposes to manipulate them, he declared, possibly in fun, that as his hands would be occupied in managing the vertical tail, he intended to tic a string round his neck to work the rearward rudder. THE ARCHDEACON CUP OFFICIALLY AWARDED TO M. SAKTOS DUMONT. At their sitting of October 26th, the Commission d'Aviation of the Aero Club of Frence decided that although it was impossible to measure the actual distance flown by M. Santos Dumont on the 23rd of the month, that it was clearly more than 25 metres, and they accordingly allotted to him the Archdeacon Cup. They also heartily congratulated M. Santos Dumont on his exploit, and have arranged to give him a banquet on the 10th of November. THE NEW MILITARY AIRSHIP SCHOOL. The celebrated 1905 Lebaudy airship has been taken back to Moisson, and is to be there employed for training the members of the Army Aeronautical Department in their various duties, to form in fact, the centre of a military aeronautical school, which will be under the supervision of Commandant Bouttieaux and Captains Voyer and Bois. LEBAUDY, 1906. The' 1906 Lebaudy airship, which has been ordered by the French War Office from Messrs. Paul and Pierre Lebaudy,
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