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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 1388.PDF
airmen will play a preponderating part, or else, instead offlying corps against flying corps, there Will be attacks on towns, stations, factories, and depots behind the lines.Sacrifices, he contends, We must make, for the vital need of air supremacy cannot be too strongly urged. We are now pass-ing through the last moments in which our efforts can influence the decisive hours of the first fine days. OVER ^IO in farthings has been collected amongst the poorat Limehouse to go towards the provision of a motor- ambulance for air-raid Work. Thus is the fame of the Kaiserspread amongst the lowliest of London's inhabitants. WITH their usual ingenuity, the R.F.C. this week, when the frost came, quickly evolved a sledge out of old aeroplane runners and displayed their prowess at tobogganing on the hill slopes at Orpington and Biggin Hill, a number of con- valescent soldiers being amongst those who enjoyed the sport. IN the very remarkable series of clauses embodied in the terms of the Russian-German armistice published last week, provision is made for controlling aerial enterprise. Article VI says that in order to avoid unrest and incidents at the front no operations may be undertaken for 10 miles behind the fronts. A 6-mile zone behind each side's own demarca- tion lines applies for the aerial forces. SERIOUS precautions against expected attacks by great British and American air squadrons, says the Dutch news- paper Tyd, are being taken by Cologne, and other Rhenish and Westphalian towns. New anti-aircraft guns have been installed and bomb-proof shelters built. The population has also received new instructions for safety. IN this connection the following regulations, Which have evidence in them of the taking advantage of Wisdom begotten of experience, as a result of the Hun air-pirates' attack upon British cities, are the latest issued by the German authorities:— " THE military authoiities again draw attention to thefact that the darkening of windows, &c, is not yet carried out in a satisfactory manner. " The object of shading all sources of light is to make itimpossible for enemy aircraft to take their bearings during their flight, and to make it more difficult for them to dropbombs on localities where they could do damage. "As a matter of fact the complete darkening of towns nearthe Western front, which has been carried out in accordance with the regulations, has been so successful that many flyershave so completely lost their bearings as to land Within our lines, while on the other hand bombs have been droppedrepeatedly on localities of no military or commercial value whatever, simply because they were brilliantly illuminated. " The lighting regulations are therefore a protection to theindividual as well as to the masses. " Particularly reprehensible is the habit of turning on lightsduring an air attack, without first properly shading the source of light. " The police now have instructions to see that the regula-tions are carried out to the letter, and those offending will be dealt with with the utmost rigour of the law. " The following are considered to be efficient means ofdarkening for private houses and business premises :— " Closing up windows, doors, &c. by means of fixed or roll DECEMBER 27, 191 7. shutters ; covering windows, &c, with a coat of paint or byhanging blinds, curtains, &c, made of material or paper in such a manner that the number of lights is not discerniblefrom outside ; shading the source of light itself by means of cardboard shades, thick paper, &c, in such a manner thatthe direct rays of light do not fall upon the windows or doors. " It is to be hoped that the patriotism of our fellow-citizenswill induce them to put up with the inconvenience of shading their lights in the manners indicated without murmur, andthus- avoid the necessity of police action being taken against offenders. - " In conclusion, it is again urgently requested that privateindividuals should refrain from using the telephone during or immediately after an air raid, more especially in respect tomaking inquiries from the post office or other public buildings regarding the progress of the raid. " Officials have instructions not to answer such inquiries,as they only endanger the necessary official telephoning. " In response to an urgent demand on the part of the public,it has been decided to notify the all-clear after a raid by blasts on a siren. As soon as the necessary arrangements in thisdirection have been made the details will be published. "F. H." "X 85 " Raid (December 18th). THE following communiques have been issued by the Field- Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Home Forces :•— "December \%th, 9.48 p.m. " Hostile aeroplanes crossed the Kent and Essex coast about 6.15 p.m. and proceeded towards London. Some of the raiders reached the London district and dropped bombs. Bombs were also dropped in Kent and Essex. Reports of casualties and damage have not yet been received. Our guns and aeroplanes were both in action." " December lgth, 11 a.m. " Latest reports indicate that from 16 to 20 enemy aero- planes took part in last night's air raid. Three groups of raiders crossed the Kent Coast between 6.15 and 6.25 p.m., and three other groups crossed the Essex Coast between 6.10 and 6.45 p.m. All six groups made towards London. Most of the raiders were turned back by gun-fire at various places, only about five machines actually reaching and bombing the capital between 7 and 8 p.m. After the main attack on London had terminated a single aeroplane made its way over the capital about 9 p.m. • " One raider was hit by gunfire and finally came down in the sea off the Kentish Coast, two of its crew of three men TEN YEARS AGO. Excerpts from the " Auto," (" FLIGHT'S " precursor and sister Journal of December 14th, 1907. " FLIGHT " was founded in 1908. THE BLERIOT AEROPLANE. The fates are apparently now kinder to M. Bleriot, andhe, on December 7th was successful in making two or three very good flights, the first of which was a semi-circular courseof about 160 yards, the second a straight flight of about Coo yards, and the third another straight flight of about500 yards. THE FARMAN AEROPLANE. On Friday of last week Mr. Farman's aeroplane met with a mishap, which occurred, however, while it was being taken out for trial, and not during the course of an actual flight. The machine toppled over, apparently as the result Of recent alterations resulting in the lightening of the tail, and the damage caused to the framework was somewhat considerable. DE MARCAY AIRSHIP. An airship designed on most original lines has been con-structed by the Baron de Marcay in conjuntion with M. Kluytmann, who is acting as engineer. Its peculiarityconsists in dividing the gas vessel, which is very long, into two entirely distinct sections at the middle, and in mountingthe propeller, which is of enormous diameter, in the gap thus provided. THE GASTAMEIDE-MENGIN AEROPLANE. Two other well-known automobilists in France have now come to the fore in the aeronautical world. Messrs. Gastam- bide and Mengin having combined forces with a view to experi- menting with a heavier- than-air machine. It will be equipped with an 8-cylinder 50 h.p. Antoinette engine, which will drive a tractor screw of 2 metres in diameter, and 1.3 metres pitch. The total surface available Will be 24 sq. metres, and the weight 350 kilogs. It is anticipated that it should rise at a speed of from 55 to 60 kilos, per hour. AIRCRAFT RAIDS. being captured alive by an armed trawler. There is reason to suppose that another enemy aeroplane came down in the Channel, but this is unconfirmed at present. " One of our pilots attacked and fired two drums of ammu- nition into a raider as the latter was in the act of dropping bombs on London from a height of 13,000 ft. Another of our pilots also engaged the enemy over London, and a third in the vicinity of the capital at 11,000 ft. All our machines returned safely. " Full reports of casualties and damage in London have not yet been received. Bombs were also dropped in various places in Kent and Essex." " December igth, 12.45 p.m. " Latest police reports state that 10 persons Were killed and 70 injured in London in last night's air raid. Outside London onjy five persons were injured. Several fires occurred, but the material damage is not serious. No damage was caused to naval or military establishments." German Version. " Berlin, December igtk. " Our airmen effectively attacked with bombs London, Ramsgate, and Margate." 1374
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