For Instance.

It will be remembered that certain silly humanitarian pacificists tried some time before the war to introduce an international agreement that bombs should not be dropped from aircraft. Certain honest countries refused to be a party to any such agreement, and so the idea fortunately fell through. But if it had been adopted, think what it would have cost us. Our military classes are scrupulously honourable— whatever our political and commercial classes may be -and we should have stuck to our agreement. As a result, the Germans would have brought up bigger supplies and reinforcements at Neuve Chapelle, because the railways which were smashed by the bombs dropped by the R.F.C. would have been usable for a longer time than they were. And the resultant slaughter on both sides would have been greater.

Similarly, the R.N.A.S. would not be constantly dropping bombs on Zeebrugge, Antwerp, and so forth, and the Germans would be able to launch unlimited submarines unobstructed, with greater consequent loss of life at sea.

Two Alternatives.

As a matter of fact, there are only two rational ways of making war-namely, the chivalrous method and the wholesale method. If all nations were altogether honourable throughout all classes of the population— which is obviously impossible-wars could be decided by picked teams of champions from each nation, and the belligerent countries would abide by the result.

A team from each nation would visit the enemy country, and would fight a "home" team in the local Stadium, which, under the circumstances, could easily be filled with spectators at enormous prices, and thus the war could be made to pay for itself handsomely. Of course, firearms would have to be barred, and it would all be bayonet, sword, and lance. If one wanted to bring the latest arm into it, the picked aviators of each nation might be allowed to fight with short-range large-bore pistols at selected aerodromes.

The only reasonable alternative is a war in which the whole nation takes part, a war of extermination, a war in which there is no foolish distinction between combatant and non-combatant, for the non-combatants are either making munitions of war or are raising food for combatants or for those who are making munitions, or cooking food or making clothes for those who are raising the food for the etc., or engaged in growing up to become combatants or food-raisers or cooks. Consequently, if one comes down to plain logic, everyone is helping in the prosecution of the war, and in common reasonableness should be liable to treatment as a combatant if caught.

The Labour Question Again.

Under such conditions the labour question could be properly handled, for everyone would be a State servant and under Martial Law. No one need then worry about "Labour versus Liquor," for all liquor would be under State control.

In this connection a friend of mine made a brilliant suggestion which is quite a workable proposition under existing conditions, namely, that the "Armament Districts" such as the Clyde, Tyneside, the Black Country, and so forth-should be put under Martial Law, and all public-houses closed to ordinary customers. Liquor-tickets, somewhat similar in operation to the German bread-tickets, would be issued, but only to men working for armament firms. These men would receive their tickets on pay-day along with their wages, and the amount of liquor allowed would be limited. Also. a certain amount of liquor would be docked for lost time or bad work, so that each man's allowance would be settled automatically along with his wages sheet. The liquor itself might either be supplied in

Incidentally, much good might be done without any special legislation if the police did their duty properly. The policeman who brings in ordinary "drunks" only makes himself unpopular with his senior officers. Any special constable on ordinary police duty learns this very soon after joining, and it is quite time someone exposed the scandal in Parliament.

The reason is that the fat and comfortable "station sergeant," or whatever he is called, dislikes having his contemplative peacefulness disturbed by drunk after drunk being run in, for he has all the trouble of booking particulars and sending in reports and so forth, and gets no kudos out of it.

A Simple Improvement.

Yet, if the higher police authorities all over the country let it be known that station-sergeants would be promoted if they put a stop to drunkenness in their districts, and that constables who roped in numerous "drunks" would have their services recognised, the result would be felt immediately. Magistrates also should be instructed that all convicted "drunks" should be imprisoned without the option of a fine. The average workman would soon stop getting drunk if he found that he lost a week's wages and had to sleep on a plank bed every time he passed the limit. This simple instruction from headquarters would not stop drunkenness, but it would put a very sound check on it. And even a check on drunkenness would soon increase the output of armament.

The Only Rational System.

However, to return to the consideration of war as it should be carried on under rational conditions-assuming that any form of physical violence can be considered rational. Every human being in the country ought to be working heart and soul for the State in the endeavour to make the fighting forces more efficient and effective. That is the state of mind of Germany to-day.

From One Who Knows.

A valued friend of mine, a highly intelligent, widely travelled man, who has just returned from Germany after being imprisoned there ever since the beginning of the war, tells me that the German people were never so much one people as to-day. Their confidence is unshaken. Their organisation is superb. Their discip line is wholly admirable. All the tales one reads of the weakening of German moral, of scarcity of matériel, of internal dissension, are lies, hatched out by our imbecile press and futile Government with the intention of encouraging the English people, when anyone who is not a fool Englishman knows that the only way to get an Englishman to stir himself is to tell him the worst and rouse his dander. The truth is that we are as far off beating the German Nation now as we were at the outbreak of war, and the sooner the people in this country know it the better.

My friend loathes Germany and all its works, for he has been brutally treated, and has undergone four months' solitary confinement for political reasons, but he is full of admiration of German efficiency, German strength, and German "one-ness." He is as keen a proGerman as I am myself and hates Germany as cordially.

Thoroughness.

That is just where we must copy the enemy if we are to win through as emphatically as our population, our wealth, the area of our Empire, and our place in the World demands. Everyone should not only be doing

his or her "bit" for the State, but everyone should be doing their utmost.

Under a strong Government which knew how to "work" the press as it could easily be worked, every soul in the country would be in a few weeks doing some useful work or other for the Services.

The only exceptions would be people who are honestly opposed to the war. And the proper thing to do with them is to deport them to a neutral country so that they will not be in the way.

Everyone else ought to be in the service of the State, and should be helping to carry on the war as efficiently and as effectively and as relentlessly as possiblewhich, when you come to think of it, is Socialism, and Conscriptionism, and Feudalism, and Militarism, and Barbarism, and Toryism, and half a dozen other "isms" rolled into one, but it is also pure Logic.

An Ideal Country.

Great Britain would have been an ideal country if it had been self-contained and self-feeding, so that it was free from any need of outside supplies, and was

The Question of Publicity.

A singularly foolish letter in the "Times," signed "W. Burdett-Coutts," complaining that the official Eye-Witness does not mention, or that the Censor does not pass, the names of those who distinguish themselves, and instancing the case of the late Mr. Moorhouse, has drawn this crushing reply:-TO THE EDITOR of the "TIMES."

Sir,-Has not "Eye-Witness" written the finest epitaph that can be desired for a soldier dying in his devotion to duty, an epitaph that is in keeping with the spirit of Nelson's famous signal :

"He made his report.

Is not this better than to be trumpeted as a hero? Your obedient servant, A SOLDIER. It seems impossible for those of vulgar mind to understand that an officer and gentleman hates to see his name in print, outside official announcements, worse than death itself, especially in war time. He does his duty because it is his duty, and not because he desires the applause of the common mob, which he despises. If his commanding officer sees fit to mention him in dispatches he is pleased, and if he does anything notable which wins for him a D.S.O., or a Military Cross, he is duly honoured, but he would perhaps rather that the printed account of his action were circulated in the Service only, and not in the public press. It is, nevertheless, in the interests of the Service that an account worded in a properly dignified and restrained manner should be public property, and to that extent he puts up with otherwise unwelcome publicity.

The British officer of the type of the old Navy and Army is at once the proudest and the most humble of men, which is just why he puzzles those who cannot understand his mental outlook. The publicity-hunting, medal-collecting officer may be as brave as a lion, but he is never a good officer, for he neglects his job in order to advertise himself or to do "deeds of desperate daring. That is why, even if he pushes himself by political or financial pull into high rank, he is always regarded with mingled suspicion and contempt by the officers who have done the work while he has been collecting the limelight, and that is why publicity of any kind is shunned by the best class of officer while on service, though perhaps in time of peace an officer of the best type may be proud of a public reputation as a first-class horseman, and may in the future be proud of winning big flying races, analogous to the Grand Military Steeplechase, or the "National."

The R.F.C. Aid Committee.

The Secretary of the Royal Flying Corps Aid Committee, Miss Constance Dudley, writing from Surrey House, Marble Arch, W., the new office of the Committee, encloses a list of subscriptions since the end of February. The donors include a number of well-known firms unconnected with the aeroplane industry, and the handsome total of £298 5s. 11d. has been reached during this period.

The Aeronautical Society's "Faux Pas." With reference to the remarks in the last issue of THE AEROPLANE under the above title, this paper is informed by the Secretary of the Aeronautical Society :

(1) That the circular, to one paragraph of which exception was taken, was drawn up and circulated by him personally (on a general authority from the Council to proceed with the arrangements for the meeting), and was not seen, drafted or inspired in any way by anyone connected, directly or indirectly, with the Royal Aircraft Factory.

(2) That he has no connection with "various articles in the press, ," and is unaware of the identity of "Ornis" in the "Times."

(3) That there is no justification for any implication that the Royal Aircraft Factory controls or unduly influences the Aeronautical Society.

(4) That it is inaccurate to state or imply that the only Royal which Aircraft Factory aeroplanes to Professor Bryan's methods have been applied are the B.E.2c. and the B.E.8a. (5) That the "objectionable paragraph" if read without prejudice contains a simple statement of fact that was made without any ulterior motive, either of advertisement of the Royal Aircraft Factory or disparagement of private firms.

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

It is now possible to publish details of the sums expended on comforts during the months of March and April. These amounts, added to those previously published for the five months ending February 28th, make a total of £881 175. id. usefully expended, in addition to many thousands of readymade garments sent by thoughtful individuals and institutions. Mrs. Sueter is to be congratulated on the arduous work she has performed, for which she must feel amply repaid by the many expressions of gratitude her practical sympathy has evoked.

From the "London Gazette," May 7th, 1915.

ADMIRALTY, MAY 5TH. ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE.-J. Bird to be flight lieut. April 30th.

WAR OFFICE, MAY 7TH. REGULAR FORCES. ESTABLISHMENTS.-ROYAL FLYING CORPS. MILITARY WING.-Flying Officers.-April 14th: Lieut. B. S. Sandeman, 2nd Highland Brig., R.F.A., T.F.; Lieut. E. F. W. Cobbold, 7th Cheshire, T.F. April 16th: Capt. D. H. Macdonell, D.S.O., R. of O.; Sec. Lieut. M. T. Sandys, R.A., and seconded. April 22nd: Sec. Lieut. R. H. S. Mealing, S.R.; Sec. Lieut. P. G. Ross-Hume, 6th K.O.S.B., and transferred to general list, New Armies; Sec. Lieut. J. O. Cooper, S. R.; Temp. Sec. Lieut. M. K. Cooper-King, 7th (Pioneers) York and Lanc., and transferred to general list, New Armies; Sec. Lieut. L. M. Wells Bladen, S.R., from an asst. equipment officer. April 27th.

MEMORANDA. Temp. Capt. H. Dobell relinq. commn. сп appointment to the Royal Naval Air Service. April 20th.

*

From the "London Gazette," May 8th, 1915.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the appointment of the undermentioned officer to be Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force :

LIEUTENANT LANCE GEORGE HAWKER.

Royal Engineers and Royal Flying Corps.

For conspicuous gallantry on April 19th, 1915, when he succeeded in dropping bombs on the German airship shed at Gontrode from a height of only 200 feet, under circumstances of the greatest risk.

Lieutenant Hawker displayed remarkable ingenuity in utilising an occupied German captive balloon to shield him from fire whilst manoeuvring to drop the bombs.

REGULAR

*

*

WAR OFFICE, MAY 8TH. FORCES.-ESTABLISHMENTS.-ROYAL FLYING CORPS. MILITARY WING.-Flying officers to be Flight Commanders.-Lieut. (temp. Capt.) J. E. Tennant, S. Guards. March 17th. And to the temp. capts. April 17th: Lieut. C. E. C. Rabagliati, Yorks L.I.; Lieut. R. L. Charteris, S. Reserve; Lieut. L. G. Hawker, R. E.; Sec. Lieut. M. B. Blake, S.R. April 23rd: Lieut. R. E. Lewis, W. India Regt. ; Lieut. C. G. Bell, S.R.

Flying Officers.-April 9th: Sec. Lieut. W. A. GrattanBellew, S.R.; Temp. Sec. Lieut, E. E. Clarke, A.S.C.; Sec. Lieut. R. H. Mayo, S.R.

From the "London Gazette," May 10th, 1915.

WAR OFFICE, MAY 10TH. SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFficers.-SUPPLEMENTARY TO REGULAR CORPS.-ROYAL FLYING CORPS.-MILITARY WING.-Sec. lieuts. (on prob.) confirmed in rank: C. D. Fuller, J. C. H. Barfield. To be sec. lieuts. (on prob.): P. D. Robinson. April 6th. D. B. James. April 19th. April 21st: J. P. C. Sewell, C. C. Miles. April 23rd: J. Ll. Williams, G. L. P. Henderson. W. J. McConnochie. April 26th. April 27th: L. W. F. Turner, R. H. Carr, F. Dunn, E. R. Scholefield.

ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE.-The following have been granted temporary commissions as lieutenants, R. N.V.R., and appointed to the "President," additional, for duty with R. N.A.S., to date April 29th: A. S. Goodwin, P. J. H. Sumner, F. J. Toulmin, and O. H. Powell.

The following have been entered as probationary flight sublicutenants, and appointed to the "President," additional, for R.N.A.S., to date as mentioned: H. G. Henley, L. C. Keeble, and H. A. Bower, May 12th; G. G. Ommaney, May 5th.

The following appointments were notified at the Admiralty on May 7th:—

ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE. Mr. F. A. Crispin granted a temporary commission as lieutenant, R. N.V.R., and appointed to the "President," additional, for instructional duties in the R.N.A.S., to date May 1st; and Mr. R. Griffin, also granted a temporary commission as lieutenant, R.N.V.R., and appointed to the "President," additional, for duty in the R.N.A.S., to date May 4th.

Messrs. J. H. Hardman and J. Simson granted temporary commissions as sub-lieuts., R.N.V.R., and appointed to the "President," additional, for R.N.A.S., to date May 3rd.

The following have been entered as probationary flight sublieuts., and appointed to the "President,' additional, for R.N.A.S., to date as mentioned: H. de Verd Leigh, May 6th; L. W. Hodges, R. M. Clifford, F. R. Laver, C. Perrett, and W. L. Graham, to date May 12th; also J. D. Hume (for temporary service), to date May 12th.

The following appointments were notified at the Admiralty on May 8th

ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE.-Acting Com. F. C. Halahan, graded in R.N.A.S., as acting wing com., to date May 6th.

Mid. R.N.R. D. J. Sheehan, transferred to R.N.A.S., as prob. flight sub-lieut., and appointed to the "President," additional, for R.N.A.S., to date May 7th.

Messrs. J. R. Blunt and B.E. Annoot, granted temp. commissions as sub-lieuts., R.N.V.R., and appointed to the "President," additional, for duty with R.N.A.S., to date March 1st and April 28th respectively.

Petty Officer L. A. Hervey and Mr. C. W. A. CritchleySalmonson entered as prob. flight sub-lieuts. for temp. service, and appointed to the "President," additional, for R.N.A.S., to date May 12th and May 5th respectively.