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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 1229.PDF
W fSSSfr OCTOBER 31, 1918 BOOK REVIEWS. •• THE BOMBING OF BRUGES " CAPTAIN PAUL BEWSHER, D.S.C., R.A.F., disarms the critic of his new book by his frankness, for one of the best of his poems starts : . ..„•„.-•. >t: " O judge me not by flight-inspired verse ! • • ' ' It is a farthing found inside my purse, * »V- Whose azure silk is filled with magic gold, ' ; Which can ten thousand magic tales unfold.** .- Again in another piece he warns us : ''*'-. " No gold of poetry will deck this tale." Nevertheless it must be admitted that there is some good poetry in the book. Capt. Bewsher is no mere jingler, although in his eagerness to catch a rhyme he is occasionally betrayed into writing pure bathos, and here and there he takes liberties in rhyming. In spite of its imperfections, however, we are glad to have this little collection of Capt. Bewsher's poems, for, good as his work is at present, there is promise of still better to come. He may not have won yet what M. Rostand has designated " the blue laurel of the air," but he appears to be in a fair way to attaining that distinction. He shows that there is poetry in "the cloudy chapels of the sky." and that aerial warfare—hideous though it may be—cannot frighten the muse into silence. Night-bombing was a speciality of Capt. Bewsher, and the dodging— " Of rigid searchlights in a flaming ring. And glittering balls of green . . . string after string." have inspired some vividly descriptive writing. In one of the few poems which have not to do with the war, " The Death of Romance," those who love the countryside are warned that if they go a-flying— " The hidden secrets of the lane Will not again the old joys bring." The book is published by Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton, at 55. net. " AIRY NOTHINGS " IMITATION may be the sincerest form .of flattery, but the realthing is generally preferable. So it is with Capt. Barber's little book. It is evident that he reads his Kipling, but.—to put it briefly—we prefer Kipling at first hand. We also have another grievance against Capt. Barber, inasmuchas—quite unknowingly, no doubt—he has borrowed the title of one of Jessie Pope's delightful little volumes of humorousverse. It is a pity, for such a title infers that the writing is lightsome and inconsequential, which could hardly be saidof Capt. Barber's book. Frankly, the book is a disappointment. Capt. Barber, asreaders of " FLIGHT " know, is one of the pioneers of aviation,and the tablets of his memory must be plentifully stored with much that should be both interesting and instructive. Yetthe things he amused himself by jotting down during a fortnight's leave at Torquay are but poor stuff. Of the half dozen sketches included in the book perhaps thebest is " Dream or True Vision," picturing the trial trip, in 1928, of a new aerial liner between London and Athensat a speed of 300 miles an hour and at an altitude of 70,000 ft. " Early Day Finance " is also good, and will be speciallyappreciated by those who have observed the interest which company promoters are taking in matters pertaining toflying. The book concludes with a rhapsody which reminds one ofthe piquant comment of the charming Scotch-American child in Neil Munro's " Daft Days." It looks as though it might bepoetry with the lines all wiggly at the ends, but there's no zip in it. The book is published by Messrs. McBride Nast and Co., at3s. 6d. net. " MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICITY " STUDENTS of electricity have anything but an easy time reconciling some of the explanations in text-books with the latest expositions of scientists, and on this score they will welcome "Magnetism and Electricity," by Mr. H. E. Penrose, which has just been published by the Wireless Press, Ltd. In a series of 50 lessons Mr. Penrose treats his subject on novel lines, and sets forth the facts relating to the elementary principles of magnetism and electricity in a simple form by ascribing electro-magnetic causes to electronic action in ether. He has rigorously excluded matter of purely historic interest, and his method is so vivid and in- teresting—one might almost say entertaining—that the atmosphere of drudgery usually associated with text-booksis not evident. Mr. Penrose has an easy facility in elucidating difficult theoretical questions, but here and there this hasled him into a looseness of -language and the use of un- fortunate analogies which are apt to be misleading to anunwary student. His diagrams—of which there are no less than 224—are wonderfully clear. The book is one which should prove useful as an introduc-tion to the study ot electricity in any of its applications, but those who are taking up wireless telegraphy will find theyare particularly catered for, the numerous problems connected with inductance, for instance, usually avoided in an elementarytreatise, being explained in a manner which is both novel and lucid. Each of the 50 chapters or lessons is preceded by a list ofsimple and inexpensive apparatus by the aid of which the student may demonstrate for himself the truths set forth,and at the end of each chapter is a list of questions to be answered before the next stage is entered upon. Bound incloth the book is priced at 5 s. " MILITARY OBSERVATION BALLOONS " KITE-BALLOONS are a familiar sight to-day, but few peoplehave a clear conception of the important part theyare playing in the warfare on land and sea tt>day. Of a shape that comesnear to being ludicrous, they do not appeal to the imagina- tion as do the speedy aeroplanes and the graceful airships.It is recognised, however, that kite-balloons, and also spherical balloons, can be utilised effectively in modern warfare, anddoubtless this branch of military aeronautics will be further developed. The literature on the subject is scanty, but a recent bookis "Military Observation Balloons," by Mr. Emil. J. Widmer. The military kite-balloon was invented by a German officer,Major von Parseval, and Mr. Widmer has based his book on the Balloon Manual, including drill and equipment, inuse in the German Army before the war. A full description, with drawings, is given of a kite-balloon and its equipment,explaining, in detail, the function and construction of the various parts. Then follow an explanation of the duties of theofficers forming the crew ; the procedure with regard to in- flating, anchoring and ascension ; the training of a fieldballoon company and the handling of a balloon. during manoeuvres. There is a chapter on the use of a kite-balloonin time of war, and two chapters deal with materials used in the making of balloons, the care, maintenance and repairof them, and the rules for examining balloon cloth. The last two chapters are devoted to captive and freespherical balloons respectively, describing their construction, detailing their equipment, and outlining the methods adoptedin their inflation, ascension, &c. The book, which is illustrated by 3 plates and 38 line drawings, was produced in the United States, and is being published in Great Britain by Messrs. Crosby Lockwood and Son at 12s. 6d. " BUYING SYSTEMATICALLY " IN these days when it is essential to avoid any delay in de- livering the goods which will help to win the war it is more than ever necessary for those in charge of works to ensure that adequate supplies of materials and components are kept up. That the importance of this side of a modern works organisation is becoming increasingly recognised is shown by the attention which is now given to the subject. Even those who have organised special departments for dealing with buying and the keeping up of stocks will doubt- less find much to interest them in a little book which Mr. G. H. Mansfield has written under the above title. It is unnecessary to remind readers of " FLIGHT " that Mr.~Mans- field has for years made a study of works organisation in its various phases, and his position as head of a successful concern supplying small parts, etc., has given him unique opportunities of appreciating the needs and requirements of buying systems. He has, therefore, outlined a system which, while it should be especially useful to those responsible for purchasing supplies for the various aircraft factories, has been devised with as much elasticity as possible, 60 as to render it useful to small and large firms alike. He points out that, as with every system, it cannot be expected to work itself, but with good intentions, coupled with keen interest, the system described should be the means of saving much time and trouble, where adopted. In paper covers, the book can be obtained from the Aircraft Supplies Company, Ltd., 125 Long Acre, W.C. 2, for is. 6d. net.
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