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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0273.PDF
MARCH 7, 1918. • - Berlin, Match 2nd." Captain Ritter von Tutschek obtained his 25th victory in the air by bringing down an enemy captive balloon." Austrian. Vienna, February 28**.% " As a reprisal for the Italian air raid on the open town of Innsbruck our flying squadrons on the night of February 26th-27th dropped bombs on the railway stations and the military constructions of the naval port of Venice. It was clearly observed that many hits were obtained which resulted in fires." Turkish. Constantinople, February 24th. " In an aerial encounter we shot down one enemy aeroplane." Constantinople, February 26th. " Euphrates Front.—Enemy airmen attacked Hit and Salihie without success." QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. Capital for Aircraft Manufacturers, &c. h SIR WATSON RUTHERFORD asked the Prime Minister, in the House ofCommons on February 25 th, whether he will give instructions to the Air Board and the Treasury and other Government Departments to give all possiblefacilities to the concerns at present engaged in the manufacture of aircraft, with a view to increasing the output, and not to persist in putting impedimentsin the way, such as refusal of permission to increase their capital with the object of increasing output and efficiency ?Mr. Bonar Law : I do not think it necessary to issue general instructions in the sense suggested, as all Departments concerned are fully alive to the import-ance of increasing the production of aircraft. Aerodrome in County Leinster. MR. CLANCY, on February 27th, asked the Financial Secretary to the WarOffice, with reference to the claims of the occupiers of lands taken for aerodrcme purposes in a Leinster county to be paid compensation, and particularly to theclaim of one such person whose name and the particulars of whose case have been furnished to the proper authority, whether he can now say when all thosepersons will be paid ; and whether, if the person all of whose lands have been taken is not paid before it is too late for him to acquire other lands and is therebydeprived of a whole year's opportunity of making a living, he will be com- pensated for this loss in addition to the compensation to be paid to him for thevalue of his lands ? Mr. Macpherson : This matter is being dealt with as expeditiously as theexceptional circumstances of land tenure in Ireland admit, and I regret I am not in a position to say anything definite as to the precise basis of compensation.With regard to the latter part of my hon friend's question, the point has not yet arisen, and it is hoped that it will not arise. Anti-Aircraft Defences and First Aid. MAJOR CHAPPLE asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministrywhether he will see that complete kits of first-aid requisites are provided to gun teams employed on the anti-aircraft defences of London, in order to meet theneed arising from the many minor injuries that occur at a time when medical attendance is not easily and promptly obtainable ? Mr. Macpherson : First-aid outfits are provided for gun teams employedOJI the anti-aircraft defences of London, in addition to which each man is pro- vided with a first field dressing. Medical officers are also detailed for specialduty with the troops during air raids. Medical Advisory Council. MAJOR DAVIES asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministrywhether the administrative member of the Medical Advisory Committee to the Air Council will be given a seat on the Air Council; and whether he will havedirect access to the President of the Air Council ? Col. Gibbs : The answer to the first part of the question is in the negativeand to the second in the affirmative. Ayrshire Aerial Gunnery School.MR. SHAW asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the initial stages of the Loch Doon scheme, any representations were received bythe military authorities in Scotland from private persons acquainted with the site to the effect that parts of that site were sometimes flooded to a depth of5 or 6 ft., and that parts of the road were sometimes so flooded as to stop all vehicular traffic ; and whether any action was taken upon these representa-tions ? Mr. Forster: Inquiry will be made, but it seems unlikely that such repre-sentations could have been made in the initial stages of the scheme, as the original scheme was situated in a part of the country where there was prac-tically no vehicular traffic. I have answered my hon. friend's three questions, but I think he will agree with me that detailed investigation into this mattercannot be conducted satisfactorily by question and answer in this House. The recent debates showed a disposition on the part of the House to leave furtherinquiries to the Committee presided over by my hon. friend the member fof the Cleveland Division, and I hope he will now await the Committee's Report. Mr. Shaw asked whether an attempt was made in connection with the LochDoon scheme to alter the level of Loch Bogton ; and whether white glazed tiles were employed for the work, and at what cost ? Mr. Forster: The original scheme tor the School of Aerial Gunnery, as putforward by the R.F.C. authorities, contemplated only works in the vicinity or Loch Doon. After these works had been in progress for about six months theR.F.C. authorities urged the construction ot an aerodrcme some three miles further down the valley at the shores of Bogton Loch. To drain this site(which formed no part of the original scheme) every endeavour was made to drain the land, and by straightening out a bend in the river Doon to lower thelevel of the loch, thus increasing the area of the flying ground. The presence of a bed of peat on this diversion necessitated lining a portion oi the channelwith a network of tiles, but these were not white glazed tiles. The cost of the work will be reported in due course. It was only in deference to the stronglyexpressed wish of the R.F.C. authorities that work was, at the late stage of progress, undertaken at Bogton, where it was known that flooding oftenoccurred, and it was essential that every step possible should be taken to reduce that flooding to a minimum by diversion of the stream, &c. Mr. Shaw asked at what stage a committee of civil engineers was asked toreport upon the work at Loch Doon School of Aerial Gunnery ; whether the question of the suitability of the site was expressly excluded from their termsof reference; and whether their report will be made available to members of Parliament or the public ?Mr. Forster: It should be explained that from the very first a civil engineer of special experience in roads and drainage was selected to be superintendingengineer of the work under the Director of Fortifications and Works, and he was authorised to consult with local engineers as to the possibilities oi the works,and did actually do so. The Committee of the Institute of Civil Engineers was asked to report on the work after it had been in progress for about a year. ThisCommittee was not asked to assemble specially fof the Loch Doon works, but for various large works throughout the country, of which Loch Doon was one.The question of the suitability of site was excluded from their terms oi reier- ence, in so far as this affected aviation, the reasons for the selection havingbeen decided not by the Works Department but by the R.F.C. authorities, I will consider the question of making copies of their report available formembers. ....... .. ,, ... ;,., , .. Agricultural Labour for Aerodromes. a' " •;•:"• ;"'.' ':"'" MR. PETO, on February 28th, asked the Under-Secretary of State to theAir Ministry whether he is aware that, as a result of the high wages paid for unskilled labour on aerodromes in Kent, farms in the neighbourhood are beingdenuded of the necessary agricultural labour; and what steps are being taken to prevent the consequent difficulties placed in the way of fanners ?Col. Gibbs : Yes, sir; I am aware of the complaints that have been received on this matter, and instructions have been issued to contractors that they areto engage labour exclusively through the medium of Employment Exchanges. The latter are being directed not to send forward for employment on aerodromeconstruction men whose last employer was a farmer or who are known to be agricultural labourers. Mr. G. Lambert: Does that apply to all Government contractors ?Col. Gibbs : I am afraid I cannot answer that myself. Mr. Thomas : Is not the real solution for the farmers to pay higher wages? . Air Raids (German Towns). MR. BILLING asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has beencalled to the statement by the Secretary of State for War to the effect that he was opposed to a policy of bombing German towns ; and, if so, whether he willconsider the desirability of putting a soldier in charge of the War Office ? Mr. Bonar Law : The answer is in the negative.Mr. Billing : Are we to understand that the answer is in the negative to the effect that the Secretary of State for War is in favour of bombing Germantowns ? Mr. Bonar Law : No ; the question put to me is whether my attention hasbeen called to a statement of his. To that the answer is in the negative. I believe there is no foundation for the other suggestion either.Mr. Billing: Are we to understand that Lord Derby is in favour of tombing German towns ?Mr. Bonar Law : If the hon. member chooses to put a question on that subject, he will get an answer. British Officers in Holland. INCLUDED in the party of British prisoners who arrived in Holland from Germany last week for internment were Capt. H. G. L. Mayne, 1st K.O.S.B., attd. R.F.C., and Lieut. K. Rawson-Shaw, R.F.C. In the party which arrived at Scheveningen on March ist for internment were Lieut. M. R. Chidson, R.G.A., attd. R.F.C., and Capt. G. Humphreys, R.F.C. Fatal Mishap to Flying Officer. !; " ACCIDENTALLY suffocated " was the verdict at the in-quest on March 2nd on Captain S. C. Tinne, M.C., R.F.C., who was found dead in a hotel at Hythe with an elasticband round his neck. It was suggested that Captain Tinne, who was fond of theatricals, in rehearsing a part placed theband round his neck, that it then contracted and choked Captain Tinne before he could reach the door. Hospitality for Overseas Officers. AMONG the arrangements made by the CommitteeWelcome for officers from beyond the seas, instituted by the Royal Automobile Club, are weekly entertainments to beheld every Friday, commencing to-morrow, March 8th. They will be held in the Great Gallery of the R.A.C. at4.30 p.m., tea being served at 4.15 p.m. All officer members, with their relatives and friends, will be most welcome. In- vitations will be sent to officers, but as no exact list can be kept owing to most of them being on leave, those officers who do not receive invitations are requested to apply for them at the Inquiry and Information Bureau at the Club, which is now open. All information as to entertainments, both inside and outside the Club, free tickets to theatres and music-halls, visits to industrial centres and other places of interest in London and elsewhere, can be obtained from the Bureau. _/ • Gifts for the Labour Companies.THE men of the Labour Companies who are doing such fine work behind the lines in France will be gratified to hearthat the Fund, of which Lady Cowdray is President, for sup- plying them with gifts is to be kept open during the year.It is hoped that every one who can will assist the good work by sending a subscription to the Hon. Treasurer, Mrs. Hop-anson, at 10, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. reading Belgian Pilot Missing.IN the course of a fight with four German airmen on February 23rd, the machine of Lieutenant Thiery, theBelgian " Ace," was seen to fall in flames, within the enemy's lines behind Deuman on the Dixmude-Ypres road. It ishoped that he is only wounded. Lieutenant Thiery was officially credited with the bringing down of 10 machines. 269
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