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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0034.PDF
JANUARY t, 1920 with him-lays it down that the major part of our responsible for the fact that that policy has been of preparations should be for war in the air. We do a far more settled character during the past twenty not intend to weary our readers with a recapitulation years than at any previous period, of the reasons which lead up to the conclusion that Gen. Seely wants to see an Air League—a real air power will prove to be the dominant factor in League—formed on similar lines, and we most the wars of the future. It is a clear and admitted thoroughly and heartily agree. Indeed, we have fact that aviation has completely changed the whole ourselves advocated such an organisation even before of the strategical asoect of war. As Gen. Seely puts the War. There is no other way of making the it " The Power which gains initial command of the question of air power a paramount one than by first of air will be able within a very few weeks to destroy all educating public opinion to its necessity. Once the whole of the enemy's merchant ships, all his main that is done the rest is comparatively easy, for no railway stations, and, by a combination of explosive Government, no set of politicians, dare run counter and incendiary fire all his large cities. If chemistry to the mass of public feeling. As the late Under- be called in aid results far more terrible to human Secretary says, the nucleus of such a League exists and animal life must follow. Moreover, should the already, and if branches were established in every attacked be a maritime State, his armed fleet will not town and village the force of an enlightened public help him, for even with our present imperfect methods, demand for a wise and progressive aif policy could merchant ships have a poor chance, and in days not be brought to bear. Such a body could insist on -• ••• the support of civil aviation in such a degree as not only to ensure scientific development and continuous research, but also the maintenance of commercial air services which would provide trained personnel ready to help in time of need. There is in existence already such a body in the Aerial League of the British Empire, and it seems to us that if this organisation can be galvanised into life there is no reason why it should not fill the bill. In the days before the War the Aerial League undoubtedly did a lot of good work, but latterly it seems to have fallen into lethargy. At any rate, it is a long time far distant that chance must disappear altogether. This is a gloomy picture, but it is a true picture^ and it is folly not to see it clearly and face the facts." It is folly—folly of the very worst description— not to see it. We fear, however, that there are some of those at present in power who either do not see it or are content to pursue the same policy of letting things slide which so nearly brought us to utter disaster in the late war. They must be brought to see that these matters are vital, and that the Air Service, upon which our very existence may depend in the future, is not made the sport of wrong-headed economists and opportunist politicians. The story of the older Services before the War must not be repeated again. We are most of us able to remember the manner in which the Navy was made a mere pawn in the political game, of how it was starved oh the shipbuilding Votes and brought down to a mere margin of superiority over the next strongest naval Power, and of the fight that was waged by the advocates of a strong Navy to secure a sufficient preponderance of strength to make attack by an aggressive Power hopeless. We do not want to see history repeat itself in so vital a matter as that of air power, and it will pay to examine the factors which assisted the more far-sighted of our politicians to secure their way regarding the balance of naval power. - . r An ~~Air League Fortunately for the nation and the Empire—fortunately for civilisation it- ^—tne advocates of a strong Navy were able to command a powerful support from among the public. In a way the latter had ever since the Napoleonic wars understood more or less that the safety of the Empire was bound up in a preponderant Navy. We say more or less advisedly, because the doctrine was accepted generally for the reasons for which doctrines are usually subscribed since we heard of any display of activity by it. What appears to be required is that some really live and outstanding personality, commanding the confidence of the public and of the industry, should take hold of the League and infuse into it a spirit of energy. Mr. Holt Thomas, to whose brilliant constructive schemes of civil aviation we shall refer later, writes to The Times on the subject of an Air League, but omits to mention the existence of the body to which we have referred. Will not he undertake the neces- sary initial steps for reorganising the Aerial League along the lines he favours ? • • • As we have said, there is no real need to traverse the arguments which have No Mistake ^een Put forward in support of the case for building up a strong and efficient aerial fighting force. There is not a single authority who ventures to disagree with the view that the next great war will be decided in the air. Gen. Seely in his articles has laid it down as a fundamental article of faith. Lord Weir, in a recent interview in America, has told us that it will be " largely an air war ; it will perhaps be begun and certainly ended by the Power which can strike first and hit hardest in the air." Lord Fisher, who certainly knows to, not because they are understood, but because what he is talking about when he deals with prepara- they are reiterated sufficiently often. That was tion for war, says the same thing. Sir Percy Scott good only so far as it went, but a doctrine which is is another who sees eye to eye with them. In fact, imperfectly understood does not become a vital prin- the list could be multiplied indefinitely if there were ciple. That fact was appreciated by the more need. But, more significant than anything, is the advanced advocates of the Navy, with the result that profound belief which is held in Germany that in a the Navy League was formed for the purpose of preponderating air power lies her best chance of pressing upon the public a proper understanding of getting back what she has lost. Here is what one the functions of the Fleet and the political and German newspaper says about it : " The Entente strategical reasons underlying the demand for a has succeeded by its numerical superiority in destrov- paramount Navy for the British Empire. As the ing the military power and prestige of Germany League grew in numbers and importance its influence but in all that pertains to aviation the defeated are was strongly felt upon naval policy, and it is not too still masters of the air, and will undoubtedly remain much to say that its propaganda was very largely so in the years to come. The industry of the Entente 32
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