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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0078.PDF
FEBRUARY 3, 1921 GERMAN DISARMAMENT AT last something definite has resulted from the Paris Con- ferences upon the enforcement of compliance with the terms of the Peace Treaty by Germany, and it remains to be seen whether it will be possible to bring our late enemies into line to* foot the bill now presented to them. An accompanying document sets out the German infringements of the clauses of the Versailles Treaty, and gives the various dates by which compliance is demanded, June 30, 1921, being the latest date allowed. In this the following references occur to the subject-matter of aircraft :— Aerial Clauses * Infringements 1. Germany has not surrendered all the aeroplanes, hydro- aeroplanes, motors, balloons, hangars (to be dismantled, destroyed, despatched, or delivered (out of the country)), balloon accessories, wireless telegraph and photograph equipment, hydrogen factories and reservoirs, machine-guns and other aeronautical material (Article 202). It may be noted with regard to the most important of this material there remain to be surrendered, in accordance with certain estimates, 1,400 aeroplanes and 5,000 engines. IL Since July 10, 1920, Germany has recommenced aero- nautical manufacture in spite of the decision taken by the Allied Governments at Boulogne on June 22, and she has attempted to export the material so manufactured in spite of the formal orders of the Commission of Control (Article 201). III. Germany has refused to furnish the compensation demanded by the Allies for the seven (7) Zeppelins destroyed in 1919 (Article 202). IV. Germany has not yet paid the sum of 25,000,000 marks still due as compensation for material improperly exported (Article 202). V. Germany claims to have the right to utilise aircraft in her police formations (Article 198). EX El Decisions of the Allied Governments •••;-• I. The search for hidden material will be facilitated by the "German Government, and the surrender provided for by Article 202 shall be finished before May 15, 1921. II. Germany shall assure the execution of the decision of Boulogne, i.e.. no manufacture or import of aeronautical material shall take place until three months after the date on which the I.A.A.C.C. shall declare that Article 202 has been completely complied with. III. Germany must furnish the compensation demanded for the destruction of Zeppelins ; the detail of such compensa- tion will be fixed by a special contract. IV. Germany must pay the sum of 25,000,000 marks re- ferred to above before March 31, 1921. V. Germany shall conform to decision C.A. 91-III of the Conference of Ambassadors, dated November 8, 1920, regard- ing the prohibition of the use of aircraft in police forma- tions. In addition, with a view to ensuring the application of Article 198 of the Treaty forbidding Germany to possess any military or naval aviation, Germany shall accept the definitions established by the Allied Powers which shall dis- tinguish civil aviation from military aviation forbidden by Article 198. The Allied Governments shall assure themselves by constant supervision that Germany is fulfilling this obli- gation. The Allies have repeatedly made allowances for the diffi- culties experienced by the German Government in carrying out its Treaty obligations. They are now giving a further extension of time, but they sincerely trust trie German Government will hot render it necessary for the Allies, confirming their previous decision, to consider the grave situation which will arise if Germany further persists in her default. THE WRECK OF THE " R.34 IT is with the greatest regret we have to report the total wreckage of the " R.34," the rigid airship which made that historic voyage to America and back in the summer of 1919. Official details of the catastrophe are not, at the time of writing, available, the only official report from the Air Min- istry so far being the following :— " Owing to an accident during the night (Thursday) while engaged on a routine instructional cruise, the ' R.34 ' was partially disabled and was returning to her base at slow speed. No casualties occurred." " ' R34 ' returned to her station at Howden after carrying out a normal service flight at 16.30 on Friday, January 28, and owing to the unfavourable change of weather and strong gusts of wind around the shed it was not possible to house her for the night, and she was therefore anchored in the open. " Owing to the damaged condition of the ship and the gusty nature of the weather it was not possible to keep her under control during the night, and, unfortunately, the ship, to all intents and purposes, was wrecked " It seems that during the instructional flight referred to weather conditions got very bad and fog made navigation somewhat difficult. From reports it would appear that whilst the watch was being changed over in the forward gondola, at about midnight, the car came into contact with the ground, presumably some hill. Naturally, some damage was done to the car and the engine was put out of action, and immediately after the rear gondola also struck the ground, with the result that the two engines in this car were similarly placed hors de combat. Fortunately the ship managed to rise out of further danger, and with only her two engines amidships available, put up a stiff fight against a freshening wind in an Martlesham Heath—Re-union Dinner THE Re-union Dinner for officers of the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment, Martlesham Heath, will be held at the Cafe Royal, Regent Street, London, W., on Friday, February 25, 1921, at 7 p.m. Air-Commodore H. R. M. Brooke-Popham, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., R.A.F., will be in the Chair. Tickets, price £1, can be obtained from Captain P, G. Robinson, Room A. 139, Air Ministry, Kingsway, London, W.C. effort to return home. By dawn she was some 12 miles out to sea, but managed to turn and slowly make a course to Howden, following the Humber. It is reported that " R.32 " and destroyers were sent out to assist " R.34." Her troubles were by no means at an end when she eventually arrived at Howden, for on landing—rendered exceptionally difficult with but two engines—she received many nasty bumps, which did not improve her already disabled condition. It having been found to be impossible to get " R34 " into the shed, she was taken to the mooring ground and secured on the three-wire system. As the evening closed the wind increased, and after several narrow escapes an extra strong gust apparently forced her nose to the ground, with the result that she rapidly began to break up. It would seem, on the facts available, that this catastrophe has been helped by the policy of " penny wise and pound foolish," for there is little doubt that had the Station been properly equipped with a mooring mast, and various other handling gear, the cost of the installation would have been nothing as compared with the loss of a quarter of a million or so craft. Much as this mishap is to be regretted, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing that " R 36," which is being constructed by Messrs. Beardmore, is now on the eve of being completed, and was actually inspected by Lord Weir last Saturday. Fitted with a saloon and several other new features, suitable for the passenger and commercial purposes for which she is intended, " R.36 " is slightly longer than her sister ship, " R.34." In addition there is also " R.37," which is also well on the way to completion, at the Bedford National Airship Factory, in the hands of Messrs. Short Brothers. m m Italian Fixtures for 1921 " A PROGRAMME for this year has been issued by the National Aeronautical Federation of Italy which promises : (1) Seaplane contests on Lake Garde in May ; (2) circuit races at Brescia, during the Brescia motor event week ; (3) race Lugo-Trieste-Trento-Lugo, June 10 ; (4) Schneider cup contest (Venice or Naples), September ; (5) seaplanes tour of Italy ; (6) an international contest for small touring machines ; (7) spherical balloon contest,
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