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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0134.PDF
attack on Venice by an Austrian aeriplane squadron and thesubsequent fight in the air. The anti-aircraft guns are seen in action, and views of the Italian aerodrome show thedeparture of a defensive fighting squadron. The battle in the air makes a thrilling series of photographs. The Ancre battlepictures and the " Tank " films are also being shown. ON Saturday the R.F.C., at Oxford, came off best, by 8 goals to 4, against the Isis Hockey Club. THOSE who have recollections of the gracious simplicity ofPrince Henry of Prussia, when he was wont to favour this country by visits, which may well now be regarded in the lightof magnificent spying, may be gratified to learn that he also is suffering from German frightfulness, as he has now, aftermature consideration, become a Schirmherrschaft of an Aero- nautical Exhibition in the land of the Huns. According toa correspondent this means, literally, " umbrella domination," and has been substituted officially in Germany for the wordProtektoral (patronage). 1% certainly serves the Kaiser's brother right. We shall look forward with awe to what theKaiser himself will presently be designated for his barbarities. ANOTHER opportunity serves for helping the R.F.C.Hospital. An exhibition has, under the auspices of the Secretary of the W.O., been gotten together of Zeppelinwreckage and aerial photographs, in the grounds of the Middle Temple, on the Embankment, opposite Temple Pier.On Tuesday, the Lord Mayor attended an informal opening ceremony, and since then the public can see what he saw bypaying 6d. at the entrance gate. The proceeds go to Military Charities, and any private subscriptions received by the LordMayor will be ear-marked for the Royal Flying Corps Hospital. CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN, the Norwegian explorer of South Polefame, on Tuesday passed through London on his way from the United States, vid Liverpool, to Norway, where he is tocomplete his plans for making acquaintance with the North Pole. As before announced, Captain Amundsen has greatfaith that he will be able to accomplish much more successfully by aeroplane, what previous explorers have so strenuouslystriven for across the ice packs. He hopes to launch his ship at Christiania next March, and to start upon his scientificexpedition in the summer of 1918. THOSE " informations " so freely and artfully concocted inSwitzerland for other than German consumption, regarding the loss of confidence of the Great General Staff in Zeppelins,must be taken with a grain of salt. Without doubt, the Huns would like us to go to sleep with the satisfaction of havinglayed these horrid visitations, but you never know. We fancy our defences will hardly be slackened, just in case theG.G.S. suddenly changes its mind and takes a sporting chance with another 'dozen Zepps., more or less, for straffingpurposes against the much loved Briton. WHAT Berlin would have us believe (vid Zurich) this time isthat great consternation has been caused in German Parlia- mentary circles by the news which recently leaked out that theaerial experts of the Great General Staff have advised the Minister of War not to construct any more Zeppelin airshipsfor the army. At the same time, it has become known that the advisers on aerial matters to the Naval Staff also advised,some time ago, that Zeppelin airships should be used only for scouting, and not at all, or only secondarily, for attacks on 'enemy countries or enemy fleets. Both groups of experts based their recommendations on the argument that practicalexperience has revealed great defects in the Zeppelin airship. It is condemned as being too unwieldy, too susceptible toweather, and altogether too vulnerable. Still, let us keep the air-defence fires burning just the same. AT the same time let us not neglect provision for the reprisalacts, which must sooner or later come into active operation to check these super-barbarians. That something of the sort islikely to materialise is already making some of the possible recipients creepy. Reichstag members are already gettinguncommonly uneasy about Germany's art treasures and cathedrals. And well they may, after all the iniquitieswhich their own fellow citizens have perpetrated in the sacred name of " Kultur." Wait and see. WONDER if that extra special strafing powder of Sir Theodore Cook's will be available by the time our little essays get into full swing ? " ' ENGLAND ' be d , make it Britain " is the unusuallyshort greeting which has reached us this week from our very close reader, who watches with unwearying perseveranceaway up in Edinburgh for these.little slips. Our inadvertent FEBRUARY 8, 1917. lapse this time was that Scotland was not embraced in theideals for the welfare of mankind which we accused England for the past hundred years of standing for; and which,apparently, Wilson (of the U.S.) has only recently discovered- We thank our Edinburgh critic for his consideration insending us upon this occasion so short and crisp a reprimand, which it is possible to publish. A GOOD many enthusiasts will learn with considerableregret that, for the present at least, their enjoyment" of the privileges, &c, hitherto obtainable at Hendon Aerodromeis a thing of the past. The W.O. having taken over the whole p ace, including a number of sheds of the Grahame-White Aviation Co., Ltd., the owners of the Aerodrome, the Company can no longer grant admission to the public eitheras onlookers or seekers after passenger flights. National Services come first, and, therefore, until further notice themuch appreciated Hendon Aerodrome must be regarded as " Verboten." What a re-opening there should be, however, when the timecomes round again for the gathering of the Air Clans down Hendon Way ! THE father of Lieutenant Wulstan J. Tempest, of theR.F.C., has a souvenir of his son's exploit against a Zeppelin which he destroyed and for which he gained the D.S.O. Inmaking his descent after destroying the airship, Lieutenant Tempest's machine was damaged, and he presented the "boss"of the propeller to his father. Mr. Tempest, senr., had the relic polished, and while preserving its shape had it convertedinto a handsome timepiece, which has been viewed by the magistrates of the Pontefract West Riding Bench, of whichMr. Tempest is chairman. WHICH reminds us that long, long ago the same idea wascarried out by one of FLIGHT'S subscribers, and this is whatwe wrote at the time, our reproduction of the little ornament in question giving an idea of the unique character of thisnovel ornament. " BROKEN propellers are fairly common in these days ofschool activity. Any of our readers who may be adding matrimonial bliss to their other troubles, and wishing toprove themselves handy men, may be interested in a little home-made clock stand sent in by a subscriber. It is fashionedfrom an old broken Caudron propeller, the jagged ends being sawn off and bound in sheet brass. The boss is covered by a brass plate bored to take the bolts, the heads of whichare nickel plated. The central hole is enlarged so that the clock slips easily into position. With the brass parts lacqueredand the wood polished it makes quite a neat little ornament. As in most cases the ' prop.' would have, in addition, asentimental value for one or other reason, more interest would, of course, attach to this effective form of clock stand." MR. PEMBERTON BILLING'S decision to resign his seat forEast Herts and to seek re-election, is perhaps the most straightforward solution to the whole position which hasarisen since his return to Westminster. It is for his constituents to say whether they endorse his methods ofprocedure or the reverse, and under the circumstances Mr. Billing is well advised to ask for confirmation of their originalmandate or accept a verdict to the contrary, should they so decide. SAFETY-FACTOR versus Performance. Is it either wise or worth while, in the long run, to cut dow» the factor of safety to vanishing point, for the sake of a» extra margin of performance ? ' g, . COMMANDER SAMSON please, not Sampson, Mister "Looker- on." 134
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