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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1486.PDF
NOVEMBER 13. I9lt> Army are in Persian territory ; for what purpose are they there ; and when it is expected that they will be withdrawn ? Mr. Churchill: The total number of troops in Persia is approximately 11,175, of whom 10,100 are natives of India. The second and third parts of the hon. and gallant Member's question should be referred to the Foreign Office. Disposal of R.A.F. Stations MAJ. GLYN en November 6 asked the Under-Secretary of "State to the Air Ministry how many Air Force stations, camps, and aerodromes have been handed over for disposal to the Ministry of Munitions since the Armistice ; how many are to be handed over ; what steps are being taken meantime to protect the material and property ; and how many officers and other ranks are so employed, and at what approximate cost ? The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Maj.-Gen. Seely) : In reply to the first part of my hon, and gallant friend's question, there have been surrendered by the R.A.F. since the Armistice :— («) Stations consisting of land only (i.e., landing grounds and camp ing grounds) 124 b) Stations consisting of land and buildings .. .. .. .. isa* c) Stations at which aerodromes have been released.Jwhilst build ings are still required for R.A.F. purposes .. .. .. 6 * Includinglio^transferred^to'other^departments. B Until the strength of the after-war Air Force is definitely decided I am unable to reply to the second part. In regard to the third part, arrangements are being made whereby civilian caretakers will, pending the sale of buildings, be placed in charge of stations cleared of R.A.F. material, vacated by R.A.F. personnel and handed over for disposal. In some cases R.A.F. personnel remain in charge pending the appointment of civilian caretakers and in a few other cases the local police have been requested to exercise supervision over empty buildings. I am unable to give the information asked for in the last two parts owing to the frequent fluctuations during the process of rapid reduction. Maj. Glyn : May I ask whether the Ministry of Munitions bear no cost at all of the care of these aerodromes, and whether this cost has been put on the Air Estimates ? Maj.-Gen. Seely : It is a fact that when the Disposal Board are unable to take over stores the R.A.F. personnel has to be retained to look after them, and that of course adds to the charge on the R.A.F., but the matter is now being finally considered, and I hope we shall avoid any delay in the future. Mr. Billing : May I ask whether handing over to civilian control is not likely to increase the cost of that control while certain personnel of the R.A.F. remains ? Maj.-Gen. Seely : The question as to which is the more costly is a very elaborate calculation between the R.A.F. and the civilian control, but there is obviously an advantage in handing it over to the civilian personnel in order that the small R.A.F. personnel retained may be engaged in their proper duties. Anglo-Swiss Aerial Traffic A TEMPORARY agreement permitting British airmen to land in Switzerland, and vice versa, has been concluded here. Col. Beatty, of the Civil Aviation Department, signing on behalf of Great Britain, reports The Times correspondent at Berne. He adds " the agreement, which will lapse auto matically when the International Air Convention comes into force, much resembles it, except in one particular—namely, that Swi zerland is unable to agree to the clause in the Con vention laying down that there shall be no aerial traffic except between the signatories of the Convention. It will be remembered that the Allies reserved to themselves the right in the Peace Treaty to land in former enemy countries, but Switzerland, being neutral, would not enjoy this right, and would thus, according to the Convention, be unable to deal by air with her German and Austrian neighbours. The agreement, which will come into force as soon as France makes a similar arrangement with Switzerland, does not, therefore, hinder Swiss aeroplanes from landing in Germany, as would be the case if the Convention were signed ; but it gives British aviators the right to land in Switzerland without special permission. " The Swiss have only one important aerodrome—-namely, Dubendorf, near Zurich, which Col. Beatty visited today. Larger hangars, new indication marks, and other aids to aviators will be erected for the benefit of foreign fliers. Maj. Isler, the airman who recently landed on the Jungfrau— he is chief of Switzerland's military aviation—anticipates that Dubendorf will become the most important landing- place for British airmen on their way to Rome and south east Europe. Peace Through the Air THE formal presentation to South Africa of the D.H. 9 aeroplane subscribed for by the citizens of Birmingham took place on Saturday at the Castle Bromwich ground. The Lord Mayor, Sir David Brooks, presented the aero plane to Lord Desborough, President of the Imperial Air Fleet Committee, who asked the Lady Mayoress to christen the city's gift " The City of Birmingham." Lord Desborough then asked the Hon. R. A. Blankenberg, Acting High Com missioner for South Africa, to accept the machine on behalf of the South African Government. Previous to this ceremony the Lord Mayor and the Presi dent of the Chamber of Commerce entertained the company to luncheon. Lord Desborough, in proposing the toast of " South Africa and the Imperial Air Fleet aeroplane,' City of Birming ham,' " said he believed the future, both of commerce and of war, if war we were still to have, would be in the air. Trade in the future would follow the 'plane. Maj.-Gen. Sir Frederick Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation, said that it was hoped soon to set up the Inter national Commission for Air Navigation, which might perhaps develop in Mr. Kipling's prophecy of an Aerial Board of Control. It would be in permanent session, and would deal with and assist international civil flying generally. He said : " Aviation is the antithesis of Chauvinism. Much of the mutual antagonism and mistrust between peoples of different countries has been attributable to lack of easy inter-com munication and consequent misunderstanding. The cable and wireless telegraphy have assisted in the breaking down of this party-wall between the nations. Aviation will do more, as it will afford swift opportunities for the intercourse of living personalities and provides a means of transport that is unimpeded by natural barriers. " I cannot help thinking what an interest Mr. Joseph Chamberlain would have taken in Empire aviation and what a champion we should have found in him. I wish that this aeroplane could be the first to fly to South Africa, and thus realise—though in another form—the dream of Cecil Rhodes of direct communication between Cairo and the Cape ; but although we are advanced in our plans for establishing aerial routes which eventually will hnk together all portions of the Empire, the time is not yet ripe. " The way of escape and the future in all its aspects depends upon education, backed by real belief, and I think the Imperial Air Fleet Committee are doing good work in trying to educate public opinion in regard to the air. We must follow up the advance that was made in this direction last month when international flying on an agreed basis was signed by eleven separate Powers. This is the most revolutionary break with international tradition since races first set limits to the encroachment of the stranger, and when the civilised world is intersected by a system of air routes nations will learn that it is as absurd to declare war upon another as it would be for the citizens of Birmingham to declare war upon the citizens of Crewe." The W.R.A.F. Enquiry THE Select Committee which has been enquiring into the dismissal of Miss Violet Douglas-Pennant from the W.R.A.F. concluded the taking of evidence on Tuesday. The Chair man, Lord Wrenbury, said that though the Committee would report in due course, they were going to take the unusual step of announcing some of their conclusions. Grave accusa tions had been hanging for months over the heads of several persons, and they were entitled to the Committee's conclusions upon them. " The Committee find the accusation of immorality between Colonel Janson and Miss Glubb to be untrue. The accusation of general immorality at Hurst Park Camp is entirely un supported by any evidence. The accusation that Colonel Bersey desired immorality to continue at Hurst Park Camp is found to be untrue. The accusation that General Living stone and Colonel Bersey desired, by improper means, to allow to continue a state of things under which young girls were taken to London and brought back, often drunk, in the early hours of the morning, is not supported by evidence." Lord Wrenbury added that the above were the unanimous findings of every member of the Committee. Messrs. Simmons and Simmons, of 18, Finch Lane, Cornhill, state that Brigadier-General Livingstone and Mr. W. C Bersey have instructed them to issue writs against Miss Violet Douglas-Pennant for libel. Aerial Signposts THE Air Ministry announces that the following " Notice to Airmen " is issued :— " The roofs of the following railway stations are now marked with the name of the place in large white letters :— " REDHILL (S.E. and C. Railway). " TONBRIDGE (S.E. and C. Railway). " ASHFORD (S.E. and C. Railway). " HITCHIN (G.N. Railway)." I488
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