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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0636.PDF
request was such an undertaking given and what reasons were offered for com-pliance with it; were the military authorities in France consulted on the subject; was any promise of reciprocal immunity from aerial attack by Germany on citiesof the Allies obtained in consideration of such an undertaking; if he is aware that a church in Paris was bombarded on that day by the Germans; and willhe give an assurance that no such unmerited favour to the enemy will be allowed to interfere with the prosecution of military operations in future r Captain Carr-Gomm asked the Prime Minister whether, when assenting to therequest of the Vatican that there should be no air attack on Cologne on the feast of Corpus Christi, the attention of the Vatican was drawn to the shelling ofParis on Good Friday whereby casualties were inflicted on the congregation of a church, to the recent aerial bombardment of hospitals at Etaples, and to the airraid on London on Whit-Sunday night? Mr. Bonar Law: The appeal referred to was received by the French andBritish Governments, and the reply in the terms already announced was sent after consultation and in agreement with the French Government. The staffof the Air Ministry was also consulted. The action of the Germans in shelling Paris in spite of our undertaking will not be forgotten, in the event of any similarappeal being made in the future. Sir F. Hall: Can the right hon. gentleman say whether any undertakingwas given by the German Government that the aircraft used for the protection of the back areas should not be used for bombing our hospitals and troops onCorpus Christi Day ? Mr. Bonar Law : It was precisely in connection with a question of this kindthat we consulted the staff of the Air Ministry. They were of opinion that the use referred to could not be made, if for no other reason than that the noticewas too short to enable other dispositions to be made. Mr. R. McNeitl: What reasons were advanced for this favour being shownto the enemy ? Mr. Bonar Law: I am afraid it would be rather difficult to give reasons forand against by question and answer. I am sure my hon. friend will see that there is a great deal to be said on both sides in regard to an appeal of this kind.Mr. R.MoNeill: Were the Government influenced by the fact that the Foreign Office is under the influence of the Vatican ?Mr. Bonar Law : The Foreign Office had really nothing to do with it. It was a decision taken by the War Cabinet after full consideration of all the relevantfacts. Sir F. Hall: Will any such consideration be shown to the Germans in future?Mr. Bonar Law: If the hon. gentleman will look at the last part of my answer, I hope he will be satisfied.Captain Carr-Gomm : Will the House and the public have an opportunity of seeing the full correspondence in this matter?Mr. Bonar Law : There was no correspondence except the telegram conveying the request, and the announcement made in the Press as to our reply.Captain Carr-Gomm: Has the attention of the Vatican been drawn to the fact that on Whit-Sunday night London was bombed by German aircraft, andto other facts? Mr. Bonar Law : No ; they were not. It is quite obvious that the Govern-ment would have been fully justified in view of the raids at Whitsuntide in refusing altogether to consider such an application. In addition to that, itseems to me an example of German mentality that such a request should have been put forward after what happened at Whitsuntide. Though I think it wasan impudent request it does not follow that it would be unwise to accede to it. Colonel Thorne: Do you not think that the Germans think we are a lot offools ? Mr. Herbert Samuel: Can the right hon. gentleman say whether the Germanswere asked to take reciprocal action to spare on that day other places behind the British lines, and if not, why not ? Mr. Bonar Law: They were not. I should have thought that such a requestwas quite unnecessary. If we had made such a request it might have implied that we were making a bargain. We were not; we were doing this because wethought it was right to do it. Mr. A. F. Whyte : Has the Government any information that the Vaticanmade a request to the German Government in regard to the bombardment of Paris on Good Friday ?Mr. Bonar Law: We have no knowledge of any such representation having been made. Perhaps it is right to say that we have called the attention of theVatican to what took place on Corpus Christi Day in Paris. m m m m SIDE-WINDS. A REPRESENTATIVE meeting was held on Wednesday,May 15th, at the Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham, in connection with the project for forming an Engineers' Clubin the Midlands. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman, Dr. C. C. Garrard, M.I.E.E., remarked that in the future agreat responsibility would rest upon engineers and upon all occupying leading positions in the engineering industryin connection with the work of reconstruction rendered necessary by the war. It was felt, however, that as a bodyengineers did not have the power corresponding to their abilities. This was no doubt due to their being so scatteredand split up into a large number of organisations which had very little contact with each other. It was felt that the firstthing to do to get over this state of affairs was for engineers and those associated with them technically to get togetherand to know each other. The result would inevitably be co-operative action which would undoubtedly result notonly in advantages to engineers themselves but in great benefit to the country. The idea underlying the organisa-tion of the club was that it should offer all the advantages of a first-class social club combined with facilities for meetings,lectures, &c. It was thus hoped that it would become the meeting place of the various technical societies in the district.Such a common meeting place for these societies had long been desired in Birmingham. lT~might be added that the present scheme was part of a larger idea whereby such engineers' clubs would be founded in all the large engineering centres in the country. These it was hoped would eventually become federated together so that members would not only have the practical advantages of the use of the club house in their travels, but the clubs would form centres of engineering activities in each locality. A number of gentlemen connected with the industry have JUNE 6, 1918. been elected to form a Finance and General Arrangements Committee, and also a Rules and Propaganda Committee, Dr. C. C. Garrard, of the General Electric Co., and Mr. J. Fearn, of the Birmingham Small Arms Co., Ltd., were elected provisional Chairman and Honorary Secretary respectively. The Honorary Secretary would be glad to get into touch with any gentleman interested in this project, and would invite any such to communicate with him. IN order that they may actively assist in increasing air- craft output Messrs. Barimar, Ltd., have now arranged that their special sheet metal department shall be made available for the production «f cowls, undersbields, tanks, fairings and panel work of every kind. Aircraft manufacturers who are in need of assistance along these lines would do well to communicate with Barimar, Ltd.., 10, Poland Street, London, W. 1. THE spirit of goodwill and mutual understanding existing among the leaders of the British Magneto industry was very manifest at a gathering which followed the annual general meeting of the British Ignition Apparatus Association last week. Mr. Ernest Garton, who has acted as hon. secretary of the association from its inception, was entertained at dinner by the members, and presented on their behalf by the Chairman, Mr. Peter F. Bennett, with a token of apprecia- tion and thanks in the form of a very handsome grandfather's clock. THE Caf6 Monico, the scene of many historic and interesting functions, was on Saturday last the gathering place of the employees and friends of Wm. Cole and Son, Ltd., of Hammer- smith. It was early evident that all present had made up their minds for a right good and enjoyable evening, and were not disappointed. Everything for the happiness of the employees had been well considered by Mr. Albert Cole. Mr. Bird, a co-director, made a very enjoyable and forceful speech, emphasising the important part the firm was taking in winning the war, and urging all the staff to continue, as they had done in the past, to put their utmost into their work. A very pleasant ordeal then followed, Mr. Albert Cole presenting some five or six of the oldest employees each with a watch, the charge hands each with a knife (from whom he extracted the usual penny, not to sever friendship), and lastly, but by no means least, the secretary and assistant with a cheque each. This generosity is nothing out of the usuai with Mr. Albert Cole, who firmly believes in the principle that his loyal employees are always worth the first considera- tion. An excellent musical evening followed, and eventually enthusiasm ran so high, that Mr. Cole, who had occupied the chair all the evening, was lifted bodily and carried shoulder high from the hall to the strain of " He's a jolly good fellow." At this moment curfew rang an unwelcome knell on a real good night. .. .. m m » m NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. IN order that "FLIGHT" may continue to be pub- lished at the usual time, it is now necessary to close for Press earlier. All Advertisement Copy and Blocks must be delivered at the Offices of "FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kings way, W.C. 2, not later than 12 o'clock on Saturday in each week for thefollowing week's issue. If you require anything pertaining to aviation, study "FLIGHT'S" Buyers' Guide and Trade Directory, which appears in our advertisement pages each week (see pages Hi, liii, and liv). FLIGHT and The Aircraft Engineer. 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. «. Telegraphic address: Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone: Gerrard 1828. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ' FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates:— 36 12 UKITXD KINGDOM Months, Post Free.. >i »• •• » at • • s. 7 H 28 d. i i 2 3 6 12 ABROAD. Months, Post Free.. »» »» • • »» »» •• s. 8 16 33 i. 3 6 o Cheques m»i Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietor* •/ " FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, mnd tressed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. 634
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