French civilian aviators were told off to patrol Paris, but they never caught anything. About the same date it was reported that the personnel of a German battery was destroyed by a French bomb-dropper.

A credible report from Russia stated that a Zeppelin and its crew were brought down near Sjerade. A Danish report from German sources stated Zeppelin losses in August to be six machines one outside Liège, one burnt at Metz by Capt. Finck, one shot down at Badonvillers, one lost near Antwerp, one near Brussels, one smashed in a storm in Luxemburg. Of these two are known for certain, and probably two others are correct. Amsterdam then reported 40 Zeppelins in existence.

On the 5th, Germans dropped bombs on Ghent; on the 8th on Nancy; on the 25th on Calais.

On the 7th, Japanese seaplanes were reported over TsingTao in Kiao-Chau. No definite report has yet been received as to what part aircraft really played in this affair.

On the 8th a story was published of the capture of six German aeroplanes by French Dragoons, also of a good piece of work by a French pilot in flying low to draw the fire of a German battery.

On the 23rd a bomb fell in Maastricht, in Holland-probably from an aeroplane, possibly of British origin. On the same day seven German seaplanes were reported off Helgoland. On the 18th, the "Matin" published the complaint of the French soldiers, "What are our avions doing?" Later on, thanks chiefly to civilian pilots, and a few first class cheisd'escadrille, they did very well, but much reorganisation was necessary, under General Hirschauer.

Germany's output of aircraft was reported as one airship and 70 aeroplanes per week-if one includes Parseval-Siegsfelds, and all non-rigids, the figure is probably accurate.

On the 26th it was reported that the Russians had brought down a second Zeppelin. Up to the end of September German losses officially reported included 17 aviators killed, II wounded, and 3 missing.

The précis of the report of the physical effect of steel arrows from aeroplanes was published in this paper on the 30th, translated from the "Munich Medical Weekly." The leading London surgical newspaper, with true British enterprise, published most of the same article late in December.

It was reported that two German aeroplanes were in German S.W. Africa. These have recently come into use with good effect.

The Third Month.

On October 7th, quotations from the French press mentioned the use of wireless by the R.F.C. for the first time. This has since been mentioned in various letters from the war area. The R.F.C.'s good work was neatly summed up in a letter published on this date from an A.S.C. clerk, who said, "I consider that our aeroplanes have been the means of saving thousands of lives during the war."

On October 3rd, the official "Eye-witness" stated that the R.F.C. up to September 21st had covered 87,000 miles, or 2,000 miles per day, or 1,400 hours in the air. As was pointed out, this left any astute German to deduce that if we had 100 pilots they only flew 60 miles each once in 3 days. Which meant either we had much less than 100 pilots, or they did very little flying. One officer had already stated in a letter published in a daily paper that he had flown 43 hours. Inference obvious. On October 8th, Squad. Comm. Grey and Flt. Lieut. (now Flt. Comm.) Marix, both on Sopwiths, flew from Antwerp to Cologne and Düsseldorf respectively, the latter burning a new Zeppelin and destroying its shed. Antwerp was then being evacuated.

On the 14th, a report by the "Times" correspondent in France was quoted, mentioning our fast scouts" for the first time. The report also emphasised the need for dual controlin contradiction of "Ornis" aforementioned. On the same date a letter quoted from the "Mail" allowed one to deduce the failure of the B.E.8's.

On the 21st, a French correspondent enabled this paper to point out that the vertical range of the German high-angle guns is 7,000 metres (about 22,000 feet), and a pilot recom

mended fast machines (85 to 100 m.p.h.) as fairly safe even when forced by clouds to fly low, remarking that clouds might even be an advantage.

On the 15th an official notice was issued stating that the Naval and Military Aero-Engine Competition had been won by the Green engine. Fine performances were also put up by the Gnome, Salmson, and Anzani. The R.A.F.'s own engine had failed ignominiously early in the trials to stand up to a similar test.

Twenty-eight officers and nine N.C.Os. were mentioned in Field-Marshal Sir John French's despatches dated October 8th. The "Eye-witness" notes, issued on the 17th, mentioned the inability of our machines to catch a German aeroplane, and on the 28th this paper issued a further warning of the need for fast machines for the R.F.C., drawing attention to the advent of improved types of German aeroplanes, to the delays caused by attempts at super-standardising, and to the desirability of effectiveness, as in the French Voisins, rather than theoretical efficiency.

mere

On the 22nd, an Admiralty Memorandum announced the appointment of Wing-Commander Samson, Squad. Comm. Grey, and Flt. Comms. Collet and Marix to the D.S.O.

A letter from an R.E. officer, published on the 28th, noted that General Joffre used British officers as observers by preference, on account of their reliability.

On the 31st, H.M.S. "Hermes," used as seaplane carrier, was torpedoed and sunk in the Straits of Dover, unhappily with loss of life, but otherwise to the gratification of the R.N.A.S.

On the 7th it was repored from Russia that L Z.20 (Z V) had been brought down and captured. About the same time the debut of L Z 26 at Friedrichshafen was reported. It is not known whether she has become Z X or L IV--military or naval. It was falsely reported that Zeppelin bombs had fired the oil-tanks at Antwerp. These were really fired by the Belgians themselves to keep the Germans from getting the oil. Another new Zeppelin, probably L Z. 27, or possibly merely an earlier one rebuilt, was reported from Potsdam about this date. About the 14th, a Russian report stated that yet another Zeppelin had been destroyed in that country. On the 21st, the debut of L Z. 31 was reported at Friedrichshafen, indicating rather that L Zs. 27, 28, 29, and 30 were ordered from the Potsdam works, where the newness of the organisation prevented such rapid work as at Friedrichshafen. New Zeppelin sheds were reported at Mägeltonden in Schleswig and Rostock in Mecklenburg, indicating still more clearly the intention to use Zeppelins for naval scouting at the ends of the Kiel Canal.

Bomb dropping was reported on the 12th at St. Omer, on the 13th at Nancy, on the 15th at Dunkirk, on the 28th at Montdidier, and on the 30th at Hazebrouck, showing how clearly the Germans knew our import centres. The Allies retorted on the 13th at Baden and Karlsruhe, and on the 14th at Bruges. Austrians threw bombs on Antivari on the 12th, and Germans bombed Warsaw about the 25th for several days. On the 28th it was stated that the new Voisin (130 h.p. Salmson), with pilot, passenger, machine-gun, ammunition, bombs, and fuel, climbed 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) in 10 minutes. The figure is worthy of attention.

Fourth Month.

It was announced early in November that the Cross of the Legion of Honour had been awarded to 9 officers of the R.F.C. and the Medaille Militaire to 14 N.C.Os. and men, as recognition to the whole Corps of the services it had rendered to France. The recipients of the honours were selected by the senior officers of the R.F.C., not directly by favour, or for any particular achievement, but by lot among those most deserving distinction.

On November 3rd an organised attempt was made to drop bombs on the Kaiser, then at Thielt. It is alleged that he was missed by only a few minutes.

On the 18th this paper, influenced by practical people, recommended that designs of British constructors which had proved successful on service should be commandeered by the Services, and farmed out, on a royalty basis, to less successful con

structors-such as the R.A.F.-and that B.E.2cs. should be scrapped. Those who know the latest results of the B.E.2c. craze will agree that the advice given two months, and more, ago was not far astray.

The "Eye-witness's" report of the 20th mentioned the fine work of the R.F.C. in snow and sleet. A letter dated November 6th, and published about the same date, from a R.G.A. officer of a heavy battery gave the first intimation of the detachment of individual R.F.C. pilots for artillery fire-control.

On the 21st, Squad. Comm. Briggs, Flt. Comm. Babington, and Flt. Lieut. Sippe, all on Avros, flew from Belfort to Friedrichshafen and dropped bombs. According to report they did considerable damage to plant and to L Z. 32, then nearing completion. Comm. Briggs was wounded and captured. The other two returned safely. All three were immediately awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour, and have since been appointed to the D.S.O.

Sir John French's despatch of the 29th stated: "Every day new methods for employing them (the R.F.C. pilots) are discovered and put into practice... No effort should be spared to increase their numbers and perfect their equipment and efficiency. One seems to have read sentiments similar to those in the latter phrase of the quotation in one or two (not many more) papers for the past three years. Friends who inspired THE AEROPLANE in those days may feel inclined to say "We told you so."

A Garrison Gunner, writing on the 20th, mentions the interesting combination of "Mother," who is a 300-pounder howitzer, a 13-pounder "Archibald," and a battery of 5-inch heavy guns, all with an aeroplane observer to control fire. Many more such units seem desirable against such time as we approach the Rhine.

Or. the 28th, a quotation from the "Times" makes the first mention of the highly effective bullet-proof seats supplied by Firths of Sheffield.

In the course of the month several squadron commanders of the R.F.C. were appointed Wing-Commanders, with temporary rank of lieut.-colonel, these officers being Majors Brooke-Popham, Webb-Bowen, Higgins and Burke. Major Fulton, C.B., chief of the A.I.D., was promoted at a later date, and as the senior major remains the senior officer in temporary rank. Lieut.-Colonel Trenchard had been promoted some time before, and Brigadier-General Sir David Henderson, K.C.B., D.S.O., had been promoted to Major-General on October 6th.

On November 4th, a new Zeppelin shed was reported near Emden harbour, and it was suggested as a handy mark for a seaplane raid.

About this date a long French communiqué was issued intended to restore confidence in L'Aéronautique Militaire.

On the 7th, a noticeable increase in the use of captive balloons by both sides was recorded.

An article by M. Georges Prade in a French paper was reported on the 7th, stating that L Zs. 26, 27, 28, and 29 had

been sent out between August 10th and October 15th, and that L Z. 30 was due on November 5th. He appeared to assume that all these were Friedrichshafen ships and made no allowance for Potsdam orders being in the same series and slower in output.

There was another orgy of bomb-dropping. On the 3rd, the Allies blew up the railway at Bruges, on the 4th they again dropped bombs there. On the 5th, the "Eye-witness" reported Forts Englos and Carnot at Lille blown up by British bombs. On the 18th, Germans dropped bombs at Amiens, and on the 21st at Bailleul. On the 28th our men blew up the petrol depôts at Ghent and Bruges, and also bombed Zeebrugge. And on the 20th a prisoner reported that the German officers feared the French and English newspapers dropped by our aeroplanes more than the bombs-meaning of course their truthfulness and not their heaviness.

On the 18th, land-going aeroplanes and seaplanes, shore guns, naval guns, battleships, monitors, destroyers, submarines, infantry and artillery all "assisted" at the bombardment of Zeebrugge. The sight is said to have been rather fine.

On the 20th, daily papers reported the Allies' aeroplanes beaten off in an attack on German bomb-droppers. Showing need for gun-carriers.

On the 17th, a Zeppelin, "very much on end," was reported as drifting across Holland, with the crew "hanging to the cordage." It was probably a Siegsfeld broken loose.

On the 29th, the first aerial attack on the South African forces was reported from Luderitzbucht.

Fifth Month.

On December 7th there was published an official account of the King's visit to the war area, when he visited the R.F.C. Camp, and was guarded continually by R.F.C. scouts overhead.

On the 9th, a revised list of those mentioned in despatches was published, including 30 officers and 10 N.C.O.s of the R.F.C.

In the issue of December 2nd, this paper, acting on information received, drew attention to the folly of using pom-poms against aircraft, and recommended the use of air-mines in foggy weather as defence against airships. On the 9th, the possibilities of further supplies of aircraft and engines from America was noted, and a suggestion was made that machines might be delivered to Russia by flying from France and dropping bombs on Berlin.

On the 16th, an R.G.A. officer in a letter mentioned that R.F.C. pilots had brought down several captive observation balloons. An R.F.C. mechanic mentioned that letters-presumably sent on from Headquarters to outlying detachments-were frequently delivered by aeroplane.

On the 24th, a German seaplane dropped a bomb in a garden at Dover, and Squad.-Comm. Davis destroyed a Parseval at Brussels.

On the 25th, a German seaplane flew up the Thames to Dartford, and escaped various pursuers on the way back. On

the same day, seven naval aviators raided Cuxhaven, Wilhelmshaven, and ships and seaplane sheds in the vicinity, all getting home eventually after doing considerable damage, but losing four seaplanes in the process.

On December 2nd, the French decision to standardise on four or five aeroplanes of proved value was made known, these being Voisins, Caudrons, Farmans, and "parasol" Moranes.

Geneva reports of the same date appeared to indicate the reduction in size of Zeppelins to 300 feet, with 800 h.p. and 2 tons of useful lifting capacity. An Englishwoman returned from Germany reported that 4 Zeppelins were known to have been destroyed in Russia, which would make about 10 lost in all, or rather more than the output since war began.' Various papers noted that Zeppelin bomb-dropping was being practised against dummy ships, indicating intended use at sea

French aviators dropped bombs on the big air station at

The R.N.A.S. Comforts Fund.

During the past week no less than 1,000 garments have been dispatched to the men at the various R.N.A. Stations. Colonel Maitland, in command of the Airship Section in France, writing to acknowledge 390 garments sent to his men by Mrs. Sueter, says :-"The packing-case with Christmas comforts arrived yesterday quite safely, and gave the utmost joy and satisfaction to the Petty Officers and men of this Station. They arrived at a most opportune moment, as their stock of clothing was running low, and they, one and all, wish to express to you how very much they value the presents themselves, and also the kind thoughts which prompted both you and the other donors to send them."

Up to date 52 cases and sacks of comforts, containing in all 7,000 garments, to say nothing of 20 gramophones, have been distributed to the different Air Stations and seaplane carrying ships. To secure such a result, the money received must have been laid out with the greatest skill and care, and, undoubtedly, friends of the Royal Naval Air Service will be encouraged to renew their contributions to ensure the continuance of this good work, for, be it remembered, the life of clothing on active service is very short indeed.

The following contributions in cash are acknowledged this week-Messrs. Accles and Pollock, £10 10s.; the Earl of Camperdown, £10; Messrs. White and Thompson (staff), £7 8s. 6d.; the Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (staff), £41s.; Messrs. Mann and Grimmer (employees 10th contribution), £ 10s.; Mrs. Marshall (per Dr. Sunderland), £1 18.; Vickers, Ltd., Erith (Woodworkers' 4th contribution), 10s.; total for week, £35 os. 6d.; grand total to date, £630 98. 9d.

Further contributions should be sent at once in time for the really cold weather, to Mrs. Sueter, The Howe, Watlington, Oxon.

The Royal Flying Corps Aid Fund.

A large number of letters expressing the sincere gratitude of the men of the R.F.C. have been received by Lady Henderson and the Committee of the R.F.C. Aid Fund, and those who have subscribed to the Fund will doubtless be interested to have some particulars as to what the Committee has done. Each individual man received at the beginning of the cold weather a parcel containing :

No. 1 Parcel List.-1 Sweater or shirt, 1 muffler, 1 handkerchief, 1 pair socks, 1 pair gloves or wristlets, 1 helmet, I towel, 1 body belt, 1 packet of cigarettes (20), 1 pair boot laces, 2 pieces of writing paper and envelopes, I pencil, 1 pipe, -lb. tobacco, -lb. chocolate, sweets, novio, soap.

Freiburg on December 4th, 9th, and 14th, and on Saarbourg on the 7th and 18th, and on Strassburg on the 22nd. On the 5th, one of the Allies' aviators destroyed the bridge of boats at Antwerp. On the 17th, a bomb on Westcapelle Station was reported to have killed 40 German soldiers and wounded 100.

The Germans threw more bombs on Hazebrouck on the 6th, and on the 20th a seaplane dropped bombs on Calais. On the 26th, a Zeppelin dropped bombs on Nancy and got away.

On the 16th, two German machines flew over Dunkirk, one dropping a message to ask about a German General's son, supposed killed, and the other dropping a message from a wounded and captured French aviator.

On the 9th, a report from Sevastopol alleged that the cruiser "Breslau" had been put to flight by Russian seaplanes. Hardly a credible story. On the 25th, French seaplanes were reported over the Austrian port of Pola.

to her appeal. It is her earnest desire to continue this work throughout the war, and she feels confident that she can always rely on the support of the public and their sympathy with her efforts.

A list of all those who have contributed to the fund either in money or in kind will shortly be published, but owing to lack of space it will be impossible to give more than the names of those who have sent gifts of clothing and other comforts. Should there be any of the public who wish to make further contributions in kind it is suggested that their selection should be made from among the articles in Parcel Lists 1 and 2.

Lady Henderson will be glad to give details as to size and colour, etc. for the guidance of those who are desirous of making any of these articles.

It may interest those who are concerned with aviation to know that among the many subscribers to the Fund are :— Employees Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd. £21 14 7 Ditto (Second contribution)

14 15 2

helmets, 100 socks, 50 mufflers, in cash Further contributions should be sent to Lady Henderson, 8, Chesterfield Gardens, S.W.

It is interesting, but not surprising, to hear, as the "Daily Express" New York correspondent states, that Mr. Paul T. Kenny, who has been lately in charge of the passport department at the American Embassy in Berlin, declares that the failure of the Zeppelins has been Germany's greatest disappointment in the war. "Greatest" may be a large word where so many disappointments are manifest, but we may well believe that the Zeppelin failure has hit Germans very hard. This was pre-eminently the new weapon by which Great Britain was to be terrorised, if not actually subdued. And, so far, the Zeppelins have done just nothing at all. Whether they may or will yet do something is another question. Mr. Kenny disbelieves in the Zeppelins altogether, and declares that Germans themselves have abandoned belief in them. For our own part, being more nearly concerned, we shall do well to steer a sane course between faith and scepticism.

In this, as in so much else, the German plans have miscarried and the plot has been bungled. A Zeppelin raid five or four months ago might have "come off," and, in so doing, might have upset gravely excitable nerves. Now its chance of success is much more remote, and it would upset no nerves at all. Mr. Kenny may well be right in discrediting the Zeppelin menace altogether. If he be wrong, that does not greatly matter, after all.