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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0730.PDF
IGHT JULY 19, 1917 ITALY has already issued a second aerial post stamp as a companion to the one recently referred to in " FLIGHT." The new one is for the seaplane post between Naples and Palermo, a postal service designed to avoid the risk of inter- ference with the regular mails by U boats. A 40 centesimi express-letter stamp of Italy, printed in purple, has been surcharged in black " Idrovolant. Napoli-Palermo-Napoli. 25 cent. 25." Collectors will be puzzled, says the Daily Telegraph philatelic expert, to find the surcharge on a 40 centesimi express-letter stamp, which denomination has never been issued in Italy. The stamp was originally pre- pared in 1911,, for a proposed express service, which was abandoned. So the 40 cent, stamp, without the " Idro- volant " over-print, is one of the " prepared for use but never issued " class of stamps. LAST Saturday's false police alarm of an approaching air raid was quite worth while, as it proved to be an excellent rehearsal for the real thing. Whether it was completely convincing is another matter ; but, except for the actual method of announcement, it would certainly appear that the general public has taken to heart the wisdom of temporarily retiring to funk-holes as an antidote to our own shrapnel. The fore and aft placard business, however, is somewhat crude in its simplicity, and moreover smacks of the ridiculous for the " wearee." Chief Police Commissioner Sir Edward Henry is apparently not over impressed with it, as he " trusts that this emergency expedient may prove ineffective." How about the perambulating notice-boards ? At what moment in the circus programme may they be considered at liberty to " retire " ? IN regard to the siren—or the foghorn on the Mansion House which the Lord Mayor craves for—warning scheme experimented with on Tuesday, one thing is certain : if this system of warning is decided upon, it must be a condition precedent that all other sirens or hooter dis- tractions should forthwith come under " Dora " verboten regulations. Else will many a trepidation result when the regulation factory screech announces the calling together of its particular group of workers. Giant gongs as substi- tutes should be in request under the conditions. As to the Tuesday test, if the syrens are supposed to have " syrened," there should be nothing doing with them as warnings. Never a sound was heard in St. Martin's Lane, although naturally we were on the alert. Neither have we so far discovered anyone who did hear them. Syrens may be all right for suburban places, but for London with its traffic they are a washout. WITHOUT doubt, as reported from Switzerland, the Huns are now concentrating upon aeroplane construction at Friedrichshaven and elsewhere as opposed to Zeppelin building, but this must not mean any relaxation in our night watch for these night birds. Moreover, they will still be built in moderation, as dirigibles are still an urgent necessity for the Germans, and, if anything, more so for ourselves, as long-distance scouts for the Navy. It is aeroplanes and seaplanes, however, which are going to determine the hour when peace shall come ; and with sane judgment in con- structing the right types of machines and engines this and the other side of the herring-pond, there need be no fear as to which side will ultimately cry " Hold, enough ! " IT was, indeed, considerate of the Lord Mayor at the Balfour Freedom of the City function at the Guildhall last week to include the following in the programme as a funk- hole " guide " for adjourning the proceedings :— " Should the proceedings be interrupted by the presence of hostile aircraft, of which ample notice will be given, it is suggested that the guests of the Corporation should adjourn to the crypt beneath the Guildhall, or the adjoining crypt under the council chamber, until the raid is over. " The staircases on the north, south and west sides of the Guildhall give access to these crypts, which are spacious, well-lighted and in direct communication with other parts of the building." LORD SYDENHAM not only has sound views upon most subjects, and particularly on matters aviatic, but invariably has a happy and concise way of expressing them. In the course of an article in the Observer of Sunday upon " Air Raids and Air Power " and " Defence Problems," Lord Sydenham summarises and criticises the position in regard to attacks upon the Metropolis as follows :— " If, on the 7th inst., we had been able to put a squadron of fighting machines in the air, the enemy's formation would have been broken up, and his losses must have been severe. Our airmen at the Front have shown what they can do even against odds, and when we make it clear that no raid can be III III III III III III III III III III III O A striking photograph, which comes^to us from Mr. W. H.' Sheahan, one of the Directors of the Aero^Club of Penn- sylvania, who sends a sympathetic greeting to British aviators who are to fly side by side with American pilots, in " strafing'' the Huns. Ill III III III III III III III III III M III III III III III III III III III Wm mm o 730
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