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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0460.PDF
(/TIGHT MAY IO, 1917. LONDON PRESENTS AN AEROPLANE TO SOUTH AFRICA, THERE are many people at the present time who, while theyquite realise the important r61e which the aeroplane is now playing and will continue to play in warfare, do not perceivethat aircraft will, after the war, be an important factor iii commerce and communication. This aspect was one whichwas emphasised by Lieut.-Gen. Smuts, on Saturday last, in accepting on behalf of South Africa, an aeroplane which hasbeen subscribed for by members of the London Chamber of Commerce, and presented through the Imperial Air FleetCommittee. The actual ceremony of naming the aeroplane which was performed at Hendon by Mrs. Schriener, wife ofthe High Commissioner of the Union of South Africa, was preceded by a luncheon at the Connaught Rooms. LordDesborough, who is President of both the London Chamber of Commerce and the Imperial Air Fleet Committee, presided,and in addition to Lieut.-Gen. Smuts, the guests included Lieut.-Gen. Sir David'Henderson, K.C.B., D.S.O., the Hon.William P. Schriener and Mrs. Schriener, the Marchioness of Winchester, the Rt. Hon. Lord Aberconway, the Rt. Hon.Lord Glenconner, Sir Owen Phillips, K.C.M.G., M.P., the Rt. Hon. Sir T. Vezey Strong, K.C.V.O., Mr. Lionel A. Martin,Mr. F. Faithfull Begg, Mr. Stanley Machin, Mr. Albert H. Sytner, Mr. Alfred Docker (Chairman of the Imperial AirFleet Committee), the Hon. Sir John A. Cockburn, K.C.M.G., Sir Algernon F. Firth, Bart., the Hon. Sir J. W. Teverner,K.C.M.G., Sir Harry F. Wilson, K.C.M.G., Sir Robert Hadfield, Brig.-Gen. Brancker, Brig.-Gen. W. A. Caddell, Major Vander Spuy R.F.C., Major Lord Roberts Innes Kerr, R.F.C., Capt. A. Hambro, M.P., Capt. Wilkinson, D.S.O., R.F.C.,Capt. B. C. Hucks, R.F.C., Capt. Turner, R.F.C., Capt. Lyons, R.F.C., Capt. Hope, R.F.C., Mr. John Cates, Mr.C. J. Fairfax Scott (Hon. Sec. Imperial Air Fleet Committee), and Mr. Charles E. Musgrave (Secretary of the LondonChamber of Commerce). Mr. Lionel Martin (Chairman of Council, London Chamberof Commerce), in asking the Imperial Air Fleet Committee to accept the aeroplane, spoke of the splendid way in whichSouth Africa had not only driven the invaders out of her own country, but also come forward magnificently to helpin the struggle for liberty. In accepting the gift, Lord Desborough said the objectsof the Imperial Air Fleet Committee were to draw the attention of the Empire to the necessity for increasing themeans of Imperial defence, and to present each of the self- governing Dominions with an aeroplane with the best wishesof the donors. With the gift by the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce of an aeroplane to New Zealand the second partof the Committee's work would have been accomplished. He mentioned that it was the intention of the Committeeto present a gold plaque, similar to those presented to other distinguished flying men, to Lieut. Pyott, D.S.O., the SouthAfrican who brought down a Zeppelin off Durham. Lord Desborough, in asking Gen. Smuts to accept the aeroplaneon behalf of South Africa, spoke of the splendid work of the South African aviators in South-West and East Africaand in France. Gen. Smuts, Who was warmly cheered, reminded hishearers that South Africa early realised the possibilities of the air, and in the Defence Act in 1912 provision was madeby the Union for the inclusion of aeroplanes as part of the defence system. Schools were started, and, after training,a number of . pupils were sent to England for a finishing course. Realising what an important war instrument theaeroplane was going to be, they ordered a number of machines of a new type. They turned out so good and so promisingthat the War Office wanted to keep them for France, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he succeededin getting some of them for South-West Africa. In that campaign, however, it was not possible to make extensiveuse of the aeroplane, because not only is the country so sandy that once an aeroplane comes down it cannot riseagain, but it is so bushy that it is difficult to get up. In spite of the difficulties, however, very fine work was doneby the flying officers. In East Africa the conditions were still harder, for the country was still bushier and moreafforested, and, moreover, was at a great elevation. Never- theless, some excellent scouting was done both by the SouthAfrican and the R.N.A.S. officers. Gen. Smuts emphasised the splendid assistance rendered by the aeroplanes in thedestruction of the " Konigsberg," and how quickly the Belgians, as soon as they obtained seaplanes, made shortwork of the German supremacy on Lake Tanganyika. The German askaris had a great horror of the British bomb-droppers, which followed them wherever they went, and a native non-commissioned officer questioned by Gen. Smuts,said that when he was standing by a river swarming with crocodiles and saw " The Bird " coming his first inclinationwas to jump into the river. The new aeroplane, continued Gen. Smuts, would be sentto the Western front, where there had been a tremendous struggle for air supremacy. The Germans had broughtforward a large number of machines of a new type, very fast and very deadly. It seemed for a time as though ourposition was in danger. But " our boys " made the most gallant fight possible, sometimes with inferior machines,and he never saw a German machine cross our lines. Of all warfare scouting was the most dangerous. We had ourcasualties, and to some extent we should have our casualties still. He hoped our supremacy would be maintained, asit was a factor which would contribute very materially to our ultimate success. The war had brought forward a number of new features.There was the submarine, and we saw how far it was going in its recent developments to undermine the very foundationsof sea power. He was not a pessimist, but he was sure this weapon would be fought efficiently and to its end, but untilthat was done we Were passing through an anxious period, and a period during which those in charge of our air servicesand our war machine will have to turn every attention to this great problem. Wireless telegraphy was another greatinnovation, of which he had special experience in East Africa, where the use of telegraph or telephone is impossible. Thethird novelty in the present war, the aeroplane, was probably going to prove the most important of all, not only from themilitary point of view, but afterwards, in time of peace, from a commercial point of view. Time and space werethe two great enemies in the development of the human race, and one of the most efficient instruments ever discoveredto help in the struggle against time was the aeroplane. When the war was over we should have an immense number ofaeroplanes, which could be switched over to better uses than war, and he was glad the Government had appointeda Committee to investigate this matter. Ours was a common- wealth of nations—he did not like the word Empire. Bythe air they could be bound together as by no other thing. This commonwealth was scattered all over the world, andthis trouble of time and space Was a greater trouble to us than it Was to any other state. If we could turn thesewar devices to uses in peace we would do a very great thing for this commonwealth to which we belonged. Brig.-Gen. Brancker expressed the thanks of the War Officefor the generosity of the donors. As to our air supremacy, not once had the Germans prevented our flying officers fromperforming the duties which the Army demanded of it, and after hard and bitter fighting for two months they had again,very distinctly, gained the upper hand over the Germans. Losses could always be avoided by lack of enterprise, but theRoyal Flying Corps had carried out its duties, had faced its losses and had won its victory. Our aerial offensive hadcaused the Germans much severer losses than ours, and be- sides had deteriorated their morale. Success had come earlierthan he had hoped for, and the output of our new aeroplanes and engines was improving, and he hoped- Would soon be muchbetter if the labour troubles which were again threatening could be avoided. The success in the air might be onlytemporary, and efforts to improve and extend it must go on incessantly. They, in the Air Services, thought that theantidote to the submarine was in. the air, and already that work was being undertaken. Referring to the developmentof civilian aeroplanes, the speaker pointed out how that was not being lost sight of, and said the time was coming when weshould have a line of aeroplanes running from London to Pretoria and Cape Town, via the country Gen. Smuts hadconquered for us. Mr. Stanley Machin stated that any balance of funds wouldbe handed over for the benefit of the Royal Flying Corps Hospital.Lord Desborough, on behalf of the Imperial Air Fleet Committee, sent a telegram to the King, to which the followingreply was received :— " I am commanded by the King to thank you for yourmessage, and to assure you of the pleasure it afforded His Majesty, as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Flying Corps, tolearn that the Union of South Africa have accepted, through General Smuts, the aeroplane presented by your committee.—(Signed) Private Secretary." After the luncheon the aeroplane was formally presentedto Gen. Smuts at Hendon, where it was flown by Capt. B. C. 460
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