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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0081.PDF
JANUARY 15, 1920 WHO will be the first to fly the Cairo-Cape air-route ? IF Lord Fisher proves as right—and we believe he will— iin aeronautical forecast as he did in regard to our Navy, the 'recording of his series of appeals on behalf of a paramount air fleet should, one of these days, prove of considerable historical interest. So here is a further contribution from the tough old Admiral to his already long list. And Sir William Watson has taken a hand in backing up that " Aviation spells Salvation." Lord Fisher writes :— " Justly described as the most distinguished of living poets, he writes me that Thor's Hammer is urgently required to beat into the British mind that Aviation spells Salvation. Even Macaulay's Schoolboy knows that it's not war aviation that's at stake ! Civil aircraft are capable of the war job. They are depicted leaving their peaceful avocations (I take this from a war picture) and arriving in their thousands of thousands (darkening the heavens in their flight), and without a declara- tion of war appearing unexpectedly over London and pouring down cascades of lethal gas (the humane describer adds there is a good deal to be said for a gas which kills without torturing). " Terror is no argument, least of all in our nation. When our blood is up we are equal to any fate. Nevertheless, the Germans are going ahead of us in aviation-structure and aviation-engines. Intellect, imagination, push, money—all are pleading—yet the Air Service, under a Sub-Secretary, is relegated to the War Office—bad enough if it had been rele- gated to the Admiralty, for, after all, that good Admiral was right (all Admirals ain't good) who told Mr. Pitt that the business of the Admiralty was to prevent oversea invasion, and that it wasn't a military business. We must appeal unto Caesar (Caesar has had a good look in at the Spen Valley). Over four hundred millions sterling for probably more con- scription if we are going to take on Russia, and a hundred and fifty millions for the Admiralty to buy ' bows and arrows.' when a fraction of all this wanton waste spent in aviation would keep us in the forefront of the world, both in commerce and in war. All this is what no fellow can understand ! Caesar shortly will Sack the Lot ! " THEN follows the inevitable P.S. :— " I've quoted," continues Lord Fisher, " from a lecture on the next war. Every fool knows that every war begins where the last war left off. Every airman knows that when the last war left off such a bombing had been arranged for Berlin (and was kept from starting) that would have made that city dust and ashes. Some people say the German nation at large still believes it wasn't beaten. There is a good deal to be said for this atmosphere that pervades Germany. Yet one does admire Foch, even if he saved but one widow. It is computed that by agreeing to the Armistice when he did, Foch saved two hundred thousand Allied casualties alone. The Germans would have been mown down (or bombed) in masses." THE premises of the Royal Aero Club narrowly escaped destruction last week. There was an outbreak of fire which was discovered at 5 a.m. on the morning of Thursday by a member staying at the Club, and the speedy arrival of the Fire Brigade saved the situation. Some damage was done to the main staircase just above the first floor, with the result that traffic between the reading-room and the dining- rooms on the second floor was difficult for a day or two. The ascent had to be made by means of jumping over sundry boxes and across the space formerly occupied by three stairs, but there were no casualties recorded. If the whole stair- case had gone the position would have been very awkward, if not dangerous. BY the way, the Club premises are receiving fresh decora- tions almost weekly. Numerous interesting old photos, and engravings relating to aeronautics have been hung on the walls, and now a fine collection of heads of big game has been displayed. We understand this is the result of a hunting expedition in Rhodesia and East Africa by one of the Club members. But who was the irreverent member who said the Club was beginning to look like the Cattle Show ? OOOOO OOO O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o op • • • ©o 00000000 The Sperry Tri- plane, combined flying boat and land machine.
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