the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第26节
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Grahame…White and several other officials of the London Aerodrome
carried him shoulder high from his machine。
From this time we hear little of Mr。 Sopwith as a pilot； for； like other
famous airmen； such as Louis Bleriot； Henri Farman； and Claude
Grahame…White； who jumped into fame by success in competition flying；
he has retired with his laurels； and now devotes his efforts to the
construction of machines。 He bids fair to be equally successful as a
constructor of air…craft as he formerly was as a pilot of flying machines。
The Sopwith machines are noted for their careful design and excellent
workmanship。 They are made by the Sopwith Aviation Company； Ltd。；
whose works are at Kingston…on…Thames。 Several water…planes have been
built there for the Admiralty； and land machines for the War Office。 Late
in 1913 Mr。 Hawker left Britain for Australia to give demonstrations in the
Sopwith machine to the Government of his native country。
A fine list of records has for long stood to the credit of the Sopwith
biplane。 Among these are：
British Height Record （Pilot only） 。。。 。。。 11；450 feet 〃 〃 〃 （Pilot and
1 Passenger） 12；900 〃 〃 〃 〃 （Pilot and 2 Passengers） 10；600 〃 World's 〃
〃 （Pilot and 3 Passengers） 8；400 〃
Many of the Sopwith machines used in the European War were built
specially to withstand rough climate and heavy winds； and thus they were
able to work in almost every kind of weather。 It was this fact； coupled with
the indomitable spirit of adventure inherent in men of British race； that
made British airmen more than hold their own with both friend and foe in
the war。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XXXVI Sea…planes for Warfare
〃Even in the region of the air； into which with characteristic British
prudence we have moved with some tardiness； the Navy need not fear
comparison with the Navy of any other country。 The British sea…plane；
although still in an empirical stage； like everything else in this sphere of
warlike operations； has reached a point of progress in advance of anything
attained elsewhere。
〃Our hearts should go out to…night to those brilliant officers；
Commander Samson and his band of brilliant pioneers； to whose
endeavours； to whose enterprise； to whose devotion it is due that in an
incredibly short space of time our naval aeroplane service has been raised
to that primacy from which it must never be cast down。
〃It is not only in naval hydroplanes that we must have superiority。 The
enduring safety of this country will not be maintained by force of arms
unless over the whole sphere of aerial development we are able to make
ourselves the first nation。 That will be a task of long duration。 Many
difficulties have to be overcome。 Other countries have started sooner。 The
native genius of France； the indomitable perseverance of Germany； have
produced results which we at the present time cannot equal。〃
So said Mr。 Winston Churchill at the Lord Mayor's Banquet held in
London in 1913； and I have quoted his speech because such a statement；
made at such a time； clearly shows the attitude of the British Government
toward this new arm of Imperial Defence。
In bygone days the ocean was the great highway which united the
various quarters of the Empire； and； what was even more important from
the standpoint of our country's defence； it was a formidable barrier
between Britain and her Continental neighbours；
〃Which serves it in the office of a wall Or as a moat defensive to a
house。〃
But the ocean is no longer the only highway； for the age of aerial
navigation has arrived； and； as one writer says： 〃Every argument which
impelled us of old to fight for the dominion of the sea has apparently been
found valid in relation to the supremacy of the air。〃
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
From some points of view this race between nations for naval and
aerial supremacy may be unfortunate； but so long as the fighting instinct
of man continues in the human race； so long as rivalry exists between
nations； so long must we continue to strengthen our aerial position。
Britain is slow to start on any great venture where great change is
effected。 Our practice is rather to wait and see what other nations are
doing； and there is something to be said for this method of procedure。
In the art of aviation； and in the construction of air…craft； our French；
German； and American rivals were very efficient pacemakers in the aerial
race for supremacy； and during the years 1909…12 we were in grave peril
of being left hopelessly behind。 But in 1913 we realized the vital
importance to the State of capturing the first place in aviation； particularly
that of aerial supremacy at sea； for the Navy is our first line of defence。 So
rapid has been our progress that we are quite the equal of our French and
German rivals in the production of aeroplanes； and in sea…planes we are
far ahead of them； both in design and construction； and the war has proved
that we are ahead in the art of flight。
The Naval Air Service before the war had been establishing a chain of
air stations round the coast。 These stations are at Calshot； on Southampton
Water； the Isle of Grain； off Sheerness； Leven； on the Firth of Forth；
Cromarty； Yarmouth； Blythe； and Cleethorpes。
But what is even more important is the fact that the Government is
encouraging sea…plane constructors to go ahead as fast as they can in the
production of efficient machines。 Messrs。 Short Brothers； the Sopwith
Aviation Company； and Messrs。 Roe are building high…class machines for
sea work which can beat anything turned out abroad。 Our newest naval
water…planes are fitted with British…built wireless apparatus of great range
of action； and Messrs。 Short Brothers are at the present time constructing
for the Admiralty； at their works in the Isle of Sheppey； a fleet of fighting
water…planes capable of engaging and destroying the biggest dirigible air…
ships。
In 1913 aeroplanes took a very prominent part in our naval
manoeuvres； and the cry of the battleship captains was： 〃Give us water…
planes。 Give us them of great size and power； large enough to carry a gun
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
and gun crew； and capable of taking twelve…hour cruises at a speed much
greater than that of the fastest dirigible air…ship； and we shall be on the
highroad to aerial supremacy at sea。〃
The Admiralty； acting on this advice； at once began to co…operate with
the leading firms of aeroplane constructors； and at a great rate machines of
all sizes and designs have been turned out。 There were light single…seater
water…planes able to maintain a speed of over a mile a minute； there were
also larger machines for long…distance flying which could carry two
passengers。 The machines were so designed that their wings could be
folded back along their bodies； and their wires； struts； and so on packed
into the main parts of the craft； so that they were almost as compact as the
body of a bird at rest on its perch； and they took up comparatively little
space on board ship。
A brilliantly executed raid was carried out on Cuxhaven； an important
German naval base； by seven British water…planes； on Christmas Day；
1914。 The water…planes were escorted across the North Sea by a light
cruiser and destroyer force； together with submarines。 They left the war…
ships in the vicinity of Heligoland and flew over Cuxhaven； discharging
bombs on points of military significance； and apparently doing
considerable damage to the docks and shipping。 The British ships
remained off the coast for three hours in
