I. Lessons which were ignored—Work of the Parliamentary Aerial Defence
Committee.
So far as the position, at the present time, is concerned, England is
far behind other great nations in the matter of aerial armament, and our
deficiency is open to the greatest criticism. But it is, in all things,
necessary to be fair. Therefore, it must be remembered that the War
Office has pledged itself to a definite move.
A scheme, to which further reference will be made, has been brought
forward to obtain the services of a hundred army airmen. More aeroplanes
have recently been bought; and a sum of £11,000 is to be spent upon a
military competition in England, which will probably be held in July
next.
Thus, although our present position is perilously weak, we have the
promise of a firmer, more reasonable policy. By the end of the
forthcoming flying season, if the War Office maintains its new attitude,
we should have laid the corner-stone, at least, of an efficient
air-corps.
Therefore, in the criticisms of Government policy which it is, of
course, impossible to avoid, the fact must be remembered that at last
something is to be done—nothing very ambitious, it is true, nothing that
will put us on a level say with France, but, at any rate, something. A
very unpretentious policy is better than no policy at all.
In this section, we propose to deal with those circumstances, and
representations, which have led to the dispelling of official apathy in
England.
Compared with the work being done in France and Germany, we have still
practically no organisation; and yet such organisation as has been
described will spell all the difference between success and failure,
when aeroplanes are actually used in war.
All that has been definitely established in England, so far, is the Air
Battalion, which is not in a position to give all its time and attention
to the development of the war aeroplane. Within its scheme of duties, in
addition to aeroplaning, comes the manipulation or dirigible balloons,
and also of ordinary balloons, and kites.
It was in April, 1911, that the Air Battalion came into existence. One
or two aeroplanes had, by this time, been purchased. A flying school was
opened on Salisbury Plain; and there was much talk, in the House of
Commons, as to the start which this country had begun to make in regard
to military aviation. This, as has been said, was in April.
Four months later, however, there were only half a dozen officers of the
Air Battalion who were competent to handle aeroplanes in reconnoitring
work; the remainder had been either without machines, or had been
engaged upon airship or balloon duties.
Thus, despite repeated demonstrations of the value of the aeroplane for
war purposes, and in face of the activity in France and Germany, we
found ourselves, in September, 1911, with half a dozen military airmen
who were ready to take part in the autumn manœuvres. As it happened, the
manœuvres were cancelled; but, had they not been, six air-scouts would
have been altogether insufficient to make any adequate test of the value
of aerial reconnoitring.
In sharp contrast to our lethargy, France was, at this time, ready to
put thirty aeroplanes, with highly-skilled pilots and observers, at the
disposal of the troops in her autumn manœuvres. More could have been
obtained, if necessary; but this number was considered sufficient.
It must not be thought that our military airmen lack either initiative
or experience: they do not. In the limited opportunities they have had
of showing what they can do, their performances have been highly
meritorious. They are enthusiastic, and full of aptitude for their work.
But they have lacked facilities, and also encouragement. Instead of
there being purpose, and a genuine spirit of progress behind them, they
have found neither energy nor interest, to say nothing of a persistent
stinting of money.
A question inevitably arises. It is this: why has England lagged behind
such alert nations as France and Germany in the matter of aerial
armament? The answer lies in the fact that, until recently, the
importance of the aeroplane in warfare was denied.
Enlightened views have been expressed, it is true; many men, even in
official positions, have pronounced progressive opinions. But results
are all-important; and it is a fact that no really satisfactory step has
yet been taken to place this country on an equality with other nations
in regard to an air-fleet.
Lessons have been ignored. The whole subject has been neglected, and it
has only been as the result of determined agitation that anything at all
has been done.
In view of the apathy prevailing, it was in May, 1911, that the
Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee, a body comprising members of
Parliament of all political views, organised, at the Hendon
aerodrome—which had been placed at their disposal by the courtesy of Mr
Claude Grahame-White—a special display of airmanship, to which they
invited military experts.
So far as it was possible to do so, in a one-day programme, a most
convincing demonstration was given, both of the reliability and
controllability of the modern aeroplane. Many famous people were
present; a long programme of flying was carried out. Dispatches were
borne across country; reconnoitring flights were made; aeroplanes were
quickly dismantled, and speedily reassembled. In every possible way, in
fact, the practicability of the new "arm" was demonstrated.
II. Policy of "moving cautiously"—Peril of lagging behind in aerial
armament.
After this display, the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee, feeling
that the lesson taught should be pushed home, sought an interview with
Lord Haldane, at the War Office. He readily saw the members of the
Committee; but his reply to their representations—which were that we
should keep abreast of other nations—indicated the spirit which then
existed regarding the war aeroplane.
The chief point made by the Secretary for War was that it was "desirable
to move cautiously." The War Office should not, in his opinion, "commit
itself to an idea which, in the present rapid development of aviation,
might become obsolete in a few months."
This statement was made to explain the fact that England’s supply of war
aeroplanes was inadequate. But the argument was not tenable. Naturally
there has been, and will be, improvement in aeroplane construction from
year to year. Such will always be the case. It is the same, for
instance, in regard to battleships. Yet warships, despite their enormous
cost, are built from year to year, in the full knowledge that they will
be superseded by more modern types, and may even become obsolete while
they are being constructed.
As regards aeroplanes, the machines which France bought, early in 1911,
are most certainly made to appear somewhat out-of-date by more perfect
craft now obtainable. But these earlier machines will still be
serviceable; and France will, above all, have acquired an immense amount
of experience while using them.
In this connection, it may be mentioned that, so far as can be
ascertained at present, the aeroplane is likely to proceed along fairly
steady lines of development—at any rate for the next year or so. There
may be some revolutionary idea brought forward, of course; but,
generally speaking, the immediate future seems to indicate a slow but
sure improvement.
There is no excuse for a country to hold back upon the argument that
aeroplanes may become obsolete soon after they are built. In the first
place, the cost of such machines, when compared with any other form of
armament, is ridiculously low.
To "scrap" a fleet of fifty or sixty aeroplanes would be an
insignificant item in our general expenditure upon warlike instruments.
But, as a matter of fact, there would be no need to abandon any type
purchased. Out-of-date machines could still be employed, and made
thoroughly useful, too, by being converted into "school" craft.
Lord Haldane gave the impression, in his conversation with the members
of the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee, that the War Office was
holding back from the expenditure of money upon war aeroplanes until
some fixed type of military machine was introduced. But it is not likely
that any such machine will be designed—at any rate for some time to
come. It is probable that progress will be represented by a succession
of improving types, development taking place, chiefly, in regard to
speed and stability.
During this period of progress, there is no possible excuse for Great
Britain to lag behind other countries. To-morrow, if a war broke out,
France and Germany would have the full use of their adequate squadrons
of machines. And what would our position be? We should have no proper
fleet of machines, because we had been waiting for some ideal type to be
evolved.
As a matter of fact, neither France nor Germany consider that the
aeroplanes they are at present using are anything but purely
experimental machines. But they certainly represent the best obtainable
at the moment; and, recognising the vital importance of keeping abreast
of this new science, these two countries buy such machines, and will be
quite ready to purchase more, as the process of improvement continues.