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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0479.PDF
MAY 17, 1917. Mr. AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT. 1/liGHTl Bonar Law's Tribute to the Flying Services.IN his speech introducing the supplementary vote of credit on May oth Mr. Bonar Law, referring to the recent fighting on the Western Front said ••., As.rejaafls the effectiveness of this fighting, I think it is a gratifying thing to ieel that a very large part of the success was due to our superiority in artillery. When the House realises that before the War it would have been supposed at•least I think so—the most difficult branch of the Service to train rapidly con- sidenngjiow absolutely destitute we were in munitions of war as compared with airmen who are the eyes of our long-range guns. I have been told more thanonce that in France it is not uncommon to find regiments show their admiration for our airmen by cheering one of them as he flies low over their lines. That tome is not surprising. These men are all young—many of them are little more than boj's—but from the beginning of this War they have shown a dash, a-courage, a nerve and a resourcefulness which entitles us to say that a more glorious fighting forces has never existed in-the world."R.N.A.S. and U Boats. anti-submarine warfare, the co-operation of the Naval Air Service with tin-coast patrols. . . ." Reports of R.F.C. Work. MR. GEORGE TERRELL, in the House of Commons, on May 8th, asked theUnder-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the heroism displayed by *be members of the Royal Flying Corps, he will arrange for reports of aerialengagements to be published in greater detail, together with the names of the officers and men distinguishing themselves therein ?Mr. Macpherson : The reports of combats in the air are supplied by the officers and men who have been engaged in them, and are remarkable for their brevity.When such actions are considered by the Commander-in-Chief to be worthy of •rewards, short accounts are. published, and it would be difficult to amplifythose. With regard to the second part of the questionfl may remind my hon . uiend that> as Pointed out in a reply given by the Financial Secretary to theWar Office on July 13th, 1916, those actions which appeal to the public are not necessarily most commendable, and only the Commander-in-Chief is in a positionto judge in what cases the names of those participating should be made public. It was, and, I believe, still is, the expressed desire of the officers of the RoyalFlying Corps that no mention of individual names should be made. Mr. Terrell: Does the hon. gentleman consider that the reports as publishedare the best and most descriptive which can be supplied, and does he think that the suppression of the names of the gallant men who take part in these•engagements serves any useful military purpose ? Sir Henry Dalziel: Is the hon. gentleman aware that a young lieutenant oftwenty years of age has recently brought down forty enemy machines, that he •has been personally congratulated by Sir Douglas Haig, and yet his name is notallowed to be mentioned ? Mr. Terrell: In view of the unsatisfactory reply to my question, I beg to givenotice that I shall raise this matter on the Motionfor the Adjournment to-morrow. Hours of R.F.C. Mechanics at Hounslow. MR. TYSON WILSON asked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware thatAhe men in the 18 th wing aeroplane repair section at Houuslow Heath are working .from 5.45 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days per week; that on a recent Sunday theyasked for leave from 5 p.m. to midnight, but were only granted from 8 p.m.; if he is aware that there are a number of men in repair sections who are notworking on repairs ; that there is machinery standing idle which, if utilised, would considerably reduce the. manual labour required ; and whether he willutilise this machinery and also the men who are not fully employed, with the •object of reducing the long hours now worked by the men in the 18th wingaeroplane repair section ? Mr. Macpherson : The normal working hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., whichmay, of course, be extended on pressure of work. 1 am informed that on no occasion has an application for leave, such as is mentioned in the second part of•the question, been made. Some of the work undertaken cannot be described as xepairs, but it is all undertaken in the best interests of the service. The machineryreferred to in the last part of the question is in process of erection, and is not yet ready ; every man is fully employed, and the work is evenly distributed. M r. Wilson : Is the hon. gentleman quite certain that his information is•correct ? Mr. Macplierson : Yes, I am. , •Freiburg Air Raid Leaflet.SIR W. COLLINS asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the contents of the leaflets dropped in Freiburg by the air squadron which•conducted the recent reprisal on that town ? Dr. Macnamara : My hon. friend has asked me to reply to this question.The contents of the leaflets were as follows, in German : " As reprisal for the sinking of the hospital ship ' Asturias,' which took placeon the 2oth-2ist March, 1917." R.F.C. Casualties. MR, BILLING, on May 9th, asked the Under-Secretary of State for Warwhether the reported losses of men and machines in the Royal Flying Corps include losses sustained by action or accident over our lines ; and, U not, what•is the number of such losses for the months of April and March ? Mr. Macpherson: All casualties in the Royal Flying Corps in the various•theatres of operations are published in the casualty lists. R.N.A.S. Work at the Front. MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in therecent singularly successful air battle, out of the 40 enemy aeroplanes which the military communique stated were shot down, 29 were brought down bya squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service attached to the Royal Flying Corps in France; and whether, under these circumstances, he will arrange that infuture communiques praise shall fall where praise is due ? Mr. Macpherson : Complete information is not provided by the militaryauthorities in France as to the particular squadrons, which inflict casualties on the enemy. I can assure the House that the valuable services of the naval•contingent serving with the Royal Flying Corps in France are fully recognised. Anti-Aircraft Insurance. SIR HAROLD ELVERSION, on May 10th, asked the President of the Boardof Trade the total of the anti-aircraft insurance premiums received during the -first year of the existence of the Government scheme of insurance; and whatwas4he total amount of the claims paid during the same period ? Mr. Roberts : I do not think it would be desirable to publish the figuresrelating to any of the Government insurance schemes at present. Sir H. Elverston : Can the hon. gentleman say what is the percentage of losses ?Mr. Roberts : That is what I said it would be inexpedient to give. If there is ^ny other point I shall be glad to consider it.Reprisals. . COLONEL C. LOWTHER asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of thepsril of Lion Cathedral and other historic monuments, he will appoint a small Committee to consider the introduction of special and specific punishment•for further flagrant acts of vandalism upon the historic buildings of the world ? Mr. Bonar Law : I do not think that the suggestion of my aon. and gallantfriend would be likely to obtain the result he desires. Colouel Lowther: As the Government seem to be averse to setting on firehistoric buildings in Germany, will they consider the possibility seriously of bombing and setting on fire the Black Forest ?Mr. Bonar Law: I doubt whether that wo_uld have the effect which my hou. friend anticipates. . *Mr. Billing : Are we to understand that all idea of reprisals has been definitely abandoned*?Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked the Prime Minister whether, since the Freiburg reprisal raid, two further hospital ships have been torpedoed and a Germanaeroplane has killed civilians in London; and, if so, whether the Govcnunent proposes to take instant and severe reprisals for these acts ?Mr. Bonar Law : The answer to the first part of the question is iu the affirma- tive. With regard to the second part, I cannot at present make any statement. Air Raids (Compensation).MR. GILUERT asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that last September a tramway motor-man and conductor, in the employ of the LondonCounty Council, were killed while at work in South London by bombs dropped from enemy aircraft; that the council has been advised that they cannot com-pensate these men's families under the Workmen's Compensation Act or under Section 44 of tile London County Council (General Powers) Act of 1895 ; and, asone man has lett a widow with five young children totally unprovided for and as there is no insurance scheme provided by the Government for life risks againstaircraft bombs, if he will consider whether compensation should be paid to the families of these two men killed by enemy acts out of public funds ?Mr. Bonar Law : No Government insurance scheme for personal injury or loss of life from aircraft has been set up as none was thought necessary in viewof existing facilities for life insurance. I understand that the National Relief- Fund gives temporary assistance in necessitous cases. I am not aware whetherit js in the power of the London County Council to assist from funds at its disposal.The R.N.A.S. and the German Submarine Menace. MR. BILLING asked the First(Lord of the Admiralty whether he will lake anearly opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the work that is being accomplished by a section of the Royal Naval Air Service in reducing the sub-marine peril in home waters ; .whether the greater the support and sympathy displayed by the senior naval officers in the work of the Koyal Naval Air Servicethe greater is the measure of success achieved in that district; and, if so, whether he. will impress on all senior naval officers the value of keeping their seaplanesquadrons well posted with the latest information available of movements and sinkings ?Dr. Macnamara : The good work accomplished by the Royal Naval Air Service jn locating and hunting enemy submarines is fully appreciated by the Ad-"miralty, and receives frequent recognition. Full use is made of the seaplane squadrons by the senior naval officers in the various areas, and close co-opera-tion with tht^gatrol flotillas maintained. R.N.A.S. Attack on an Enemy Destroyer.MR. BILLING asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an enemy destroyer has been recently attacked by a machine of the Royal Naval AirService j and, if so, whether this attack was successful, and to what extent ? Dr. Macnamara: Yes, Sir 1 The facts were made public in the officialAdmiralty communique of April 24th. ' - Seaplanes. 'COLONEL C. LOWTHER asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the British Navy is supplied with seaplanes capable of discharging torpedoes ; andwhether this method of offence has been practised with success against the enemy's shipping ?Dr. Macnamara : Yes, Sir. This method of attack was first employed with success in August, 1015, by Royal Naval Air Service pilots, who sankseveral enemy supply ships in the Dardanelles. Report of Enemy Losses.MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether all the enemy machines reported as driven down out of control landed behind ourlines ; and, if not, what evidence the authorities have to prove that the same were out of control or that the enemy suffered the loss of cither man or machine,and, if there is such evidence, why the authorities distinguish between shot down and driven down ?Mr. Macpherson : I understand that the distinction is made between those machines which after falling are seen to crash, and those whose actual impactwith the ground is not seen, although they were manifestly out of control when falling.The Training of Pilots. MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he 1»aware that the losses sustained by the Royal Flying Corps in training of pilot* is proportionately more than double those sustained by the Royal Naval AirService ; whether he is aware of the principle and method employed ; and, if not, having regard to the proved greater efficiency in training of the RoyalNaval Air Service, he will approach the Air Lord with a view to inviting his advice and assistance in this connection ?Mr. Macpherson : The answer to the first part is in the negative, to the second in the affirmative, and to the third that the officers responsible for training illthe two Services are in close touch. Board of Invention and Research.MR. MACMASTER, on May 14th, asked the First Lord of the Admiralty who are the persons composing the Board for considering inventions ; whether anyrecent additions have been made to its membership ; and whether the Admiralty is in communication with the Board of Inventions in the United States ofAmerica in regard to providing an antidote to submarine warfare ? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Admiralty (Dr. Macnamara):The Board of Invention and Research comprises— (r) A Central Committee, consisting of: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher(Presidents Sir Joseph Thomson, President of the Royal Society ; The Hon. Sir Charles Parsons, F.R.S.; Sir George Beilby, F.R.S.; and Vice-Admiral SirRichard Peirse ; with the heads of the Technical Departments of the Admiralty as ex-officio associated members.(2) A Consulting Panel of 14 members, namely: Professor H. B. Baker, F R S • Professor Bragg, F.R.S. ; Professor H. C. H. Carpenter ; Dr. DugaldClerk, F.R.S. ; Sir William Crookes, F.R.S.; Mr. W. Duddell, F.R.S.; Professor Frankland, F.R.S.; Professor Bertram Hopkinson, F.R.S.; Sir Oliver Lodge,F R.S.; Sir Ernest Rutherford, F.R.S.; Mr. Gerald Stoney, F.R.S.; Professor the Hon. R. J. Strutt, F.R.S.; and Mr. Richard Threlfall, F.R.S.There are 12 Sub-Committees working under the Board, and entrusted with different branches of research, each of which comprises one or more of theeminent scientists named above, together with other experts. Mr. Threlfall and Dr. Dugald Clerk are the most recent additions to the Con-sulting Panel, and the constitution of the Sub-Committees is altered from time to time as found desirable. Steps have already been taken in regard to thematter referred to in the last part of the question, but it is not advisable to state them in detail. Mr. Butcher : Do the Board of Inventions meet regularly ?Dr. Macnamara : I imagine so. 479
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