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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0458.PDF
W'ttSSh to thump out a message in Morse on the sub.'s skin :— " Will you come up, or will you take a bomb ? " A coyly emerging periscope was ths answer. NEGOTIATIONS between the British and Norwegian autho.rities for the establishment of a regular air-mail service between this country and Norway, referred to in last week'snotes, do not appear to have got much further, as they could hardly be expected to do, having regard to the statementalready made by our Postmaster-General. The Christiania correspondent of the Aftenpost now reports from London thatCapt. Dehli, the technical expert of the Norwegian Air- Route Co., has seen the British Air Minister and the Post-master General, both of whom seem very interested, although the impression gained is that there is not likely to be verygreat support for the scheme in England, and that Norway, in any case, will have to supply the airmen. We wish this enterprise every success, as it is likely to givethe lead to similar undertakings throughout the world. How utterly right the unification of our aviation efforts is,may be gauged from the fact that President Wilson has now definitely decided on a re-adjustment of the aircraft pro-gramme, and Mr. Baker has been directed to carry it out. It is intimated that production will be put in the hands of oneman, whilst another suggested step in the same direction is made in France by M. Lasies, Deputy for the Seine, who inreferring in the Matin to the Allies' mastery of the air, which is proving itself an inestimable advantage in the presentbattle, advocates an inter-Allied command for aviation, with complete control over technical production. TOUCHING upon the action by President Wilson, it wouldappear as if it were about time that some such action should have been taken, if the statements in the Times by SirSidney Low reflect the real state of U.S. practical " progress " after being in the war for a year, so far as immediate fightingvalue is concerned. Sir S. Low writes, " Those who look for American aid to relieve us from our immediate difficultiesshould read the accounts of the proceedings in the United States Senate on March 27th and the following days. TheSenate's Committee on Military Affairs took evidence from an officer in charge of the aviation programme. This officertestified that only one fighting aeroplane had thus far been sent from the United States to France. Senator New de-clared^ that of the 12,000 combatant planes which were to APRIL 25, 1918. be delivered to General Pershing by July 1st not more than37 will be deliverable by that time. Senator Lodge stated that only two cargo ships had been completed in the yardsunder the control of the United States Shipping Board. The same authoritative speaker said that, though the AmericanWar Department had spent six months in endeavouring to make an improved model of the French '75,' it had failedto produce an adequate weapon, so that every gun in General Pershing's lines has had to be brought from a British or aFrench factory. " As these statements and -reports have been widely cir-culated in the American Press, I am conveying no information to the enemy by repeating them. But I think it desirablethat they should be known and appreciated in this country, as they can be without in the least undervaluing the effortor the spirit of our friends beyond the Atlantic. We rejoice in the moral support and the resolution of the American people;we hope that in the end their immense resources and invincible energy may make our victory decisive. But we shouldunderstand that for months to come the burden of checking and defeating the Germans' attack must continue to be borneby France and Great Britain. In native swords and native ranksThe only hope of courage dwells. " America may eventually ' save democracy ' ; but tosave our own liberties and our own existence we must, for the present, rely upon ourselves, our own valiant Armies,our own mobilised industries, and our own man-power exerted to the last ounce of available pressure." THE FLEDGLING. By L. W. F. SALUTE, oh earth-crawlers ! With our motto of youthand joy, we greet ye, miserable mimes of the old mud-ball ! As youth, we speak, for the call of the air echoes instinc-tively in the heart of youth, where there is blood of buccaneers clamouring wildly for adventure, where glows a spirit offearless enthusiasm, and where abides iron courage to rule the tense muscles, the keen eye and the tingling nerves inthe sport of all sports—the game of young gods ! And Pan piped for a chorus ! For verily, every jauntin ether is a joyride, the lever that guides us through bound- less space is the joy-stick, and in every way the life of livesis a reckless, wild, voluptuous carnival of joy ! Enthusiastic, you say ? Yes, we are bubbling and gurgling with it I Moreover,gentle reader, take warning. If you are one who chooses to sneer at children of enthusiasm, steer clear of these few Courtesy of "Rivistadei Trasporti Aerei." FROM THE SUNNY SOUTH,—One of the Caproni biplanes which are doing such excellent work with our Italian Allies. 456
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