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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0518.PDF
property on land or water, damages shall be recover- able from the owner of the aircraft in respect of such damage or loss, without proof of negligence or inten- tion or other cause-of action, as though the same had been caused by his wilful act, neglect, or default, except where the damage or loss was contributed to by the negligence of the person by whom the same was suffered. It will be noticed that the Bill does not deal with the actual question of ownership of the air, but gives a species of indemnity for its use by aircraft. It is a point that does not matter in the least, and we only mention it as a matter of parsing interest. .. - • At a luncheon given last week to cele- Lord brate the first attempt to fly from Cairo Northcliffe to ^ Cape Lord Northcliffe expressed and the r . , ,, . r . . , German some uneasiness at the manner m which ' Air Menace Germany seems to be preparing for revenge by air. We do not know, he said, how far Germany has progressed since the Armistice, or how many aeroplanes she really has. It was stated in Parliament the other day that the Germans have confessed _to having over 15,000 machines, but in a war book by Gen. Schwarte, entitled " Military Lesson of the Great War," the statement is made that Germany had altogether 47,000 aeroplanes. As Lord Northcliffe said, it is hardly to be believed that the Allies brought down the difference between 47,000 and 15,000. It is possible that Gen. Schwarte was writing for the sake of effect when he made his statement, but it is hardly probable, since his work is intended to be a textbook for the information of future generations of German soldiers, and to that end his information as to actual facts would necessarily be as accurate as he could make it. In any case, it will be .as well if we do not fall into the error of again underestimating Germany's strength or her intentions, and we agree with Lord Northcliffe that we must watch her closely in these and other matters. We have been warned by all the authorities who have given the subject their attention that the next war will be decided in the air. Indeed, that much is perfectly plain even to the thinking dayman. The Power that has the prevision to strengthen its aerial resources beyond those of its neighbours will hold the terrible power of being able to deal a sudden and crushing blow, at its, own chosen moment, almost without interference from the country attacked. Nothing can stop aggression save the knowledge that an attack from the air will bring in its train instant reprisal and three-fold punishment. We must certainly watch Germany to see that she does not become so strong in the air that she will be in a position to take aggressive action without the absolute certainty of such reprisals, and one of the first steps that should be taken is to check the figures given by Gen. Schwarte. We must find out what these 47,000 aeroplanes are of which he speaks, and whether he means that Germany actually possessed that number at the Armistice ; whether the figure represents all the machines she has ever owned; or whether he MAY 13, 1920 meant that the figures included all machines owned during the War, at the Armistice, and prepared material ready for erection. As a matter of fact, we do not seriously think that the figures are in fact correct, but it will be only right to make certain. To that end we hope that a question will be asked in the House in order that the matter may be cleared up as promptly as possible. In connection with this question of air power it is interesting to follow the opinions of our leading naval and military authorities on the future of war. Before the late War a high naval authority told us that the capital ship was doomed, and that the future of marine war was with the submersible. Now we have Lord Beatty telling us that the big battleship is still the dominant factor, and will remain so for many years to come. Soldiers are divided in their opinions as to the shape land war will take. Some profess to think that it will be much as it has been. Others say that it will be a war between » engineers and their mechanical devices. These varied opinions, in all their shades, open up an unending vista of controversy which will remain unsettled until the lessons of the next great war give a new trend to naval and military thought. But it is as well not to miss the significant unanimity with which all these authorities agree about the 'i 11 jfactor of air power. Not one but admits that this will lie decisive, and that the Power which gets its first heavy aerial blow in will have gone far along the road to a decision • That emerges from every discussion, yet the Air Service is the one which is being rapidly starved into a state of pernicious anasmia. It will not do. We cannot allow history to repeat itself, for if we do its ultimate end will not t>e as that of the recent war. In this connection we cannot do better than quote Lord Northcliffe's remarks on the occasion to which we have referred earlier in this article. He said : " For a thousand years and more we regarded our position as being comparatively free from the war dangers that threatened the countries of Europe. We thought that the very small piece of sea we had around us would be our safeguard. But one Sunday morning M. Bleriot arrived at Dover, and a few thinking people began to realise at once that our position was entirely changed. Unfortunately for us, most of those thinking people lived in Germany, and it was almost immediately after that that they "began those continual tests at Johannisthal, where, by offering increasing rewards to airmen, they broke all • flying records. The Germans are talking and writing today about revenge by air. We need not be alarmed, but we must watch them and see to our own efficiency and progress." We are not at all alarmist, but we are a long way from being convinced that the Germany of today is anything but the old Germany with the old German ; ideals. It is true she is crippled for the time being, and will not be in a condition for many years to contemplate another war on the- scale of the last, but when we remember how comparatively easy and how cheap it is to create a great air fleet we cannot afford to take the smallest chance. Belgian King and Queen Fly to England. FOR their visit to England for the wedding of Lady Cynthia Curzon on Tuesday, the King and Queen of Belgium elected to come .by air. They left Brussels at 11 a.m. and Marshal Sir John Salmond. Three DH4 machines were used. King Albeft being piloted by Lieut. Stampe, the Queen by Lieut. Crombez, and Baron Goffinet, the King's A.D.C., by Lieut. Ledure. Misty weather was experienced over thelanded at 2 p.m. at the R.AJF. aerodrome at Farnborough, Channel, and the flight was made at an average height of being received by General Lord Rawlinson and Vice Air- 1,000 ft. 5l8 >:
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