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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1627.PDF
DECEMBER 18, 1919 IF there is one world-fact outstanding more than another this week it is the accomplishment of the flight from London to Australia—" Hands across the Sea " with a vengeance. OF absorbing interest also is the story of the journey as told in Capt. Ross Smith's diary. It is an historical docu ment, the original MSS. of which should be treasured in his native country equally with the actual machine, which Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., have agreed with the Australian Government, should be held by them as a milestone in linking up the farthest unit of the Great British Empire with the parent country. So mote it be. CAPT. ROSS SMITH naturally would not seek to repeat the journey under similar conditions, and endorses the only feas ible system under which the various limbs of the Empire can be kept in easy physical touch with each other through the air, viz., by relays of machines and pilots for definite stages of the journey. Irrespective of the speeding up and comfort thus assured, one solid reason is sufficient to empha sise this form of organisation. In passing through different climates with great variations of heat and cold, much strain and very heavy labour were caused as they expanded or contracted in adjusting the stays and parts of the machine. Another milestone in aviation. This time a very big double terminus one. THE Predominant Partner and Lord Fisher. " Somewhere about 600 years before the Christian Era, Baruch (a friend of Jeremiah) made this caustic remark," writes the Admiral : " 'Give not the things that are profitable unto thee to a strange nation.' " So, though daily receiving the ' pin-pricks '—' Why don't I describe in detail the future Air Navy and the future submersible Navy ? '—I refrain for Baruch's reason—but really almost any fool could make the plans—they are so idiotically simple ! This is the beauty of the future war. No mountains, rivers, protected harbours, no snow-bound Alpine passes are in the business—you just fly above all these things and drop your multiple ton bomb ! Selah ! " But isn't it funny ? :— " Just when the air is clearly the predominant partner— Seely is sacked !—and the ' 400-million-a-year ' War Office and the ' 158-million-a-year ' Admiralty, instead of being sub servient and squashed, trample on,Seely and Co. " There will be types in the air, as there were types on the •ViVuV.:::::: "-"'*:. mim HI • til lilt •Vr*v«v** •** *• • • *•&&::: mw$® m MOST ANNOYING!—IV. To do a good turn for a pilot and get In the way of the " prop." 1629
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