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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 1246.PDF
NOVEMBER 29, 1917. THE NEW AIR MINISTER. IT was officially announced on November 27th that the King has been pleased to approve of the appointment of Lord Rothermere to be President of the Air Council ; Lord Rothermere, who was Mr. Harold Harmsworth, is a younger brother of Lord Northcliffe; he will be fifty next April. He has built up several large businesses, including some prominent newspapers, such as, the Glasgow Daily Record, the Leeds Mercury, the Daily Mirror and the Sunday Pictorial. He has also been solely or partially concerned in such vast business concerns as the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Co. Lord Rothermere assisted to found the Union Jack Club, of which the usefulness has been fully proved since the war : and he founded the King Edward VII. Chair of English, Literature in the University of Cambridge—at present occu- pied by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. His first step in public service was his appointment as Di- rector of the Army Clothing Department when grave deficiencies had been discovered, in that quarter, and his new appointment is doubtless partly in recognition of his success in reorganising the department. Lord Rothermere has suffered personally in the war. His second son died most gallantly while leading his men against the enemy a year ago. His elder son and heir has been twice wounded, and is at present serving at the front; and his third son, on leaving Eton, has joined the Royal Marines. RELIEF OF AIR RAID DISTRESS—GOVERNMENT SCHEME. THE following are the main points in a memorandum which has been circulated by the Local Government on the subject of dealing with distress caused by air raids :— " The importance of having the local organisation in readi- ness beforehand was fully recognised at the conference, and the information which Mr. Hayes Fisher has received indicates that in most of the boroughs and urban districts in the metro- politan area preparations have been made for dealing with any distress which may arise immediately after a raid. It is essential that during the progress of a raid the control of the area attacked should remain in the hands of the police authorities. But it will facilitate the work of relief if centres are selected beforehand to which all persons whose houses have been damaged, or who are otherwise in need of help, can be directed to go. At each of these centres there should be a body of responsible workers with full authority to give any immediate assistance that may be needed. It is most desirable that all workers should have their posts and duties assigned to them beforehand. Voluntary organisations are entitled to be repaid any expenditure properly incurred by them as agents of the Local Relief Committee, and the Government Committee are prepared to recommend grants from the National Relief Fund for this purpose. " The immediate assistance required by victims of airraids will generally take the form of (a) shelter, (6) food, and (c) financial assistance. " As regards shelter, experience has shown that the majority of those whose houses have been damaged can readily find accommodation with their friends and neighbours. Never- theless, there may be a residue for whom other accommodation has to be provided, and therefore local committees have been advised to have in readiness a list of suitable. lodgings or shelters to which the homeless can be sent. There is a not unnatural reluctance to use the Poor Law institutions for this purpose, but if any victims of air raids are admitted to Poor Law institutions they are to be treated as guests, and not to be regarded for any purpose whatever in receipt of poor relief. With regard to the provision of food, the best plan appears to be to make arrangements with the philanthropic organisations accustomed to do this work. It is also permissible to give vouchers for presentation at the local shops. Where immediate financial help is needed, small grants may be given to last for a few days pending a full investigation of the case. " The names and addresses of all applicants for assistance should be taken, and a rough card index is most convenient for this purpose, brief entries being made on the cards of (a) any temporary assistance given, and (b) any claims for further assistance. All persons who appear to be in need of further assistance should be invited to apply again in a few days and should be told where to apply. In some boroughs, posters have been exhibited giving the address of the office to which applicants should go for help or advice. It would be well to have such posters printed so that they can be ex- hibited within a few hours after a raid. In any case information as to the addresses of the relief offices should be published as widely as possible in the district. Every effort should be concentrated on the temporary alleviation of distress, and it is better to err on the side of a generous and sympathetic handling of the cases than to withhold relief from any genuine case. " In addition to these emergency measures, the powers of the committee enable them to give temporary main- tenance allowances up to an amount equivalent to the rates of Army separation allowances and supplementary main- tenance allowances in exceptional cases, and to defray funeral expenses up to £g in each case. With the sanction of the Government Committee, they may make special grants, for instance, for medical or surgical treatment or appliances. " Local committees have also been authorised to arrange for the removal and storage of furniture from damaged houses, and to assist the occupants in procuring fresh accommodation. " Apart from such measures of temporary assistance, the Government have undertaken to make ex gratia awards from public funds on the lines of the Workmen's Compensation Act in cases of personal injury resulting in death or permanent disablement. The local committees have been entrusted with the investigation of such claims, and they should advise and assist the applicants in making out their claims. " The Government have now announced a scheme for giving owners of property not exceeding £s°° in value com- pensation for damage done by air raids and bombardments without payment of premium. Although the local committees are strictly concerned only with the relief of distress, as distinguished from compensation, it is very desirable that a close connection should be maintained between the machinery for compensation and that for the relief of distress. Procedure to effect this purpose is outlined in the documents sent to the committees. " All local committees are urged to apply to the Govern- ment Committee, at the Local Government Board, for any help or advice they may need. Applications for grants will be dealt with promptly, and the Government Com- mittee are prepared to recommend a grant from the National Relief Fund to any committee which desires to have funds in hand to enable it to deal immediately with distress which. might arise should an air raid occur." Details of the Government scheme of compensation for damage to property were given in our issue of November 8th. Honours for the R.F.C. IT was announced in the London Gazette of November 26th that th.e~.King has been pleased to confer the following rewards for gallantry and distinguished service in the field. The acts of gallantry for which the decorations have been awarded will be announced as early as practicable :— " - . • Distinguished Service Order. ' ~ " Temp. Capt. P. F. FALLARD, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C. Bar to the- Military Cross. •' Temp. Capt.H. G. E. LUCHFORD, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C., (M.C. gazetted October 27th.) Military Cross. , ' -• "--- '•"....- : '• •-"-- Lieut, (Temp. Capt.) D.S. HALL, A. and S. Hrs. and R.F.C. Capt. F. H. LAURENCE, Wore. (S.R.) and R.F.C. Temp. Lieut. J. S. MICHIE, Gen. List and R.F.C.^ ' •-. ^ 2nd Lieut. J. D. PAYNE, Gen. List and R.F.C. * ~ 2nd Lieut. (Temp. Capt.) F. SOWREY, D.S.O., R. Fus. and R.F.C. It was announced in the London Gazette of November 20th that the King has been pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the following :— 44750 2nd Air-Mech. A. COHEN, R.F.C., attd. R.G.A.. 78140 Sergt. A. F. FRASER, R.F.C. 8601 1st Air-Mech. H. J. Lee, R.F.C., attd. R.G.A. 10220 1st Air-Mech. W. E. LISTER, R.F.C., attd. R.G.A. P/13911 Corpl. J. MASON, R.F.C. 23232 Sergt. A. A. L. C. MOIR, R.F.C. 43972 2nd Air-Mech. W. I. D. STREET, R.F.C., atta. R.G.A' 65385 1st Air-Mech. H. WATSON, R.F.C. THE King has been pleased to approve of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the following for gallantry in the performance of military duty :— - 69380 2nd Cl. Air-Mech. A. H. NORRIS, R.F.C. I246
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