aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第41节

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establishments　possessed　of　the　most　suitable　machinery　to

perfect　a　programme　for　turning　out　aeronautical　requirements　in

a　steady；　continuous　stream　from　the　moment　the　crisis　developed。



The　wisdom　of　completing　these　arrangements　in　anticipation　is

now　apparent。　　Upon　the　outbreak　of　hostilities　many　German

establishments　devoted　to　the　production　of　articles　required　in

the　infinite　ramifications　of　commerce　found　themselves　deprived

of　their　markets；　but　there　was　no　risk　that　their　large　plants

would　be　brought　to　a　standstill：　　the　Government　ordered　the

manufacture　of　aeroplane　parts　and　motors　upon　an　extensive

scale。　　In　this　manner　not　only　were　the　industrial

establishments　kept　going；　but　their　production　of　aeronautical

requirements　relieved　those　organisations　devoted　to　the

manufacture　of　armaments；　so　that　the　whole　resources　and

facilities　of　these　could　be　concentrated　upon　the　supply　of

munitions　of　war。



In　France　the　air…fleet；　although　extensive　upon　the　outbreak　of

war；　was　somewhat　heterogeneous。　　Experiment　was　still　being

pursued：　no　type　had　met　with　definite　official　recognition；　the

result　being　that　no　arrangements　had　been　completed　for　the

production　of　one　or　more　standard　types　upon　an　elaborate　scale

comparable　with　that　maintained　by　Germany。　　In　fact　some　six

months　after　the　outbreak　of　war　there　was　an　appreciable　lack　of

precision　on　this　point　in　French　military。　　Many　of　the　types

which　had　established　their　success　were　forbidden　by　military

decree　as　mentioned　in　a　previous　chapter；　while　manufacturing

arrangements　were　still　somewhat　chaotic。



Great　Britain　was　still　more　backward　in　the　new　movement。　　But

this　state　of　affairs　was　in　a　measure　due　to　the　division　of　the

Fourth　Arm　among　the　two　services。　　A　well…organised　Government

manufactory　for　the　production　of　aeroplanes　and　other　aircraft

necessities　had　been　established；　while　the　private　manufacturers

had　completed　preparations　for　wholesale　production。　　But　it　was

not　until　the　Admiralty　accepted　responsibility　for　the　aerial

service　that　work　was　essayed　in　grim　earnest。



The　allocation　of　the　aerial　responsibilities　of　Great　Britain　to

the　Admiralty　was　a　wise　move。　　Experience　has　revealed　the

advantages　accruing　from　the　perfection　of　homogeneous　squadrons

upon　the　water；　that　is　to　say　groups　of　ships　which　are

virtually　sister…craft　of　identical　speed；　armament；　and　so　on；

thus　enabling　the　whole　to　act　together　as　a　complete　effective

unit。　　As　this　plan　had　proved　so　successful　upon　the　water；　the

Admiralty　decided　to　apply　it　to　the　fleet　designed　for　service

in　the　air　above。



At　the　time　this　plan　of　campaign　was　definitely　settled　Great

Britain　as　an　aerial　power　was　a　long　way　behind　her　most

fomidable　rival；　but　strenuous　efforts　were　made　to　reduce　the

handicap；　and　within　a　short　while　the　greater　part　of　this

leeway　had　been　made　up。　　Upon　the　outbreak　of　war　Great　Britain

undoubtedly　was　inferior　to　Germany　in　point　of　numbers　of

aircraft；　but　the　latter　Power　was　completely　outclassed　in

efficiency；　and　from　the　point　of　view　of　PERSONNEL。　　The　British

had　developed　the　waterplane　as　an　essential　auxiliary　to　naval

operations；　and　here　was　in　advance　of　her　rival；　who　had

practically　neglected　this　line　of　eeperiment　and　evolution；

resting　secure　in　the　assurance　of　her　advisers　that　the　huge

dirigibles　would　be　adequate　for　all　exigencies　on　the　water。



Indeed；　when　war　was　declared；　all　the　Powers　were　found　more　or

less　wanting　so　far　as　their　aerial　fleets　were　concerned。　　If

Germany's　huge　aerial　navy　had　been　in　readiness　for　instant　service

when　she　invaded　Belgium；　she　would　have　overcome　that　little

country's　resistance　in　a　far　shorter　time　and　with　much　less

waste　of　life。　　It　was　the　Belgians　who　first　brought　home　to　the

belligerents　the　prominent　part　that　aircraft　were　destined　to

play　in　war；　and　the　military　possibilities　of　the　aeroplane。　　

True；　the　Belgians　had　a　very　small　aerial　navy；　but　it　was　put　to

work　without　delay　and　accomplished　magnificent　results；

ascertaining　the　German　positions　and　dispositions　with　unerring

accuracy　and　incredible　ease；　and　thus　enabling　the　commander　of

the　Belgian　Army　to　dispose　his　relatively　tiny　force　to　the　best

advantage；　and　to　offer　the　most　effective　resistance。



Great　Britain's　aerial　navy；　while　likewise　some　　what　small；　was

also　ready　for　instant　service。　　The　British　Expeditionary　force

was　supported　by　a　very　efficient　aerial　fleet；　the　majority　of

the　vessels　forming　which　flew　across　the　Channel　at　high　speed

to　the　British　headquarters　in　France　so　as　to　be　available

directly　military　preparations　were　begun；　and　the　value　of　this

support　proved　to　be　inestimable；　since　it　speedily　demoralised

the　numerically　superior　enemy。



France；　like　Germany；　was　somewhat　dilatory；　but　this　was

attributable　rather　to　the　time　occupied　in　the　mobilisation　of

the　Fourth　Arm　than　to　lack　of　energy。　　There　were　a　round　1；500

aeroplanes　ostensibly　ready　for　service；　in　addition　to　some　26

dirigibles。　　But　the　fleet　was　somewhat　scattered；　while　many　of

the　craft　were　not　immediately　available；　being　in　the　shops　or

in　dock　for　repairs　and　overhaul。　　During　the　period　of

mobilisation　the　so…called　standing　military　force　was　augmented

by　about　500　machines　which　were　acquired　from　private　owners。　　

The　aeroplane　factories　were　also；　overhauled　and　re…organised　so

as　to　be　in　a　position　to　remedy　the　inevitable　wastage；　but

these　organisation　efforts　were　somewhat　handicapped　by　the

shortage　of　labour　arising　from　the　call　to　arms。　　France；

moreover；　imperilled　her　aerial　strength　by　forbidding　the　use　of

558　machines　which　were　ready　for　service。



Germany's　aerial　fleet　was　of　similar　proportions　to　that　of　her

Gallic　neighbour；　but　curiously　enough；　and　in　strange　contrast；

there　appeared　to　be　a　lack　of　readiness　in　this　ramification　of

the　Teuton　war　machine。　　The　military　establishment　possessed

about　1；000　machinesactive　and　reserveof　which　it　is

estimated　700　were　available　for　instant　service。　　During　the

period　of　mobilisation　a　further　450　machines　were　added　to　the

fleet；　drawn　for　the　most　part　from　private　owners。　　So　far　as

the　dirigibles　were　concerned　14　Zeppelins　were　ready　for　duty；

while　others　were　under　construction　or　undergoing　overhaul　and

repair。　　A　few　other　types　were　also　in　commission　or　acquired

during　mobilisation；　bringing　the　dirigible　force　to　40　machines

all　told。



But　the　greatest　surprise　was　probably　offered　by　Russia。　　Very

little　was　known　concerning　Russian　activities　in　this　particular

field；　although　it　was　stated　that　large　orders　for　machines　had

been　placed　with　various　foreign　manufactories。　　Certain

factories　also　had　been　established　within　the　Empire；　although

the　character　of　their　work　and　its　results　and　achievements　were

concealed　from　prying　eyes。　　In　Russia；　however；　an　appreciable

number　of　private　aeroplanes　were　in　operation；　and　these；　of

course；　were　placed　at　the　disposal　of　the　authorities　the　moment

the　crisis　developed。



The　British　and　French　aeroplane　manufacturers　had　been　busy　upon

Russian　orders　for　many　months　previous　to　the　outbreak　of

hostilities；　while　heavy　shipments　of　component　parts　had　been

made；　the　assembling　and　completion　of　the　machines　being　carried

out　in　the　country。　　It　is　generally　believed　that　upon　the

outbreak　of　war　Russia　had　a　fleet　of　800　aeroplanes　in　hand；　of

which　total　150　were　contributed　from　private　sources。　　Even　the

dirigible　had　not　been　overlooked；　there　being　nearly　20　of　these

craft　attached　to　the　Russian　Army；　although　for　the　most　part

they　are　small　vessels。



In　comparison　with　the　foregoing　large　aerial　navies；　that　of

Great　Britain　appeared　to　be　puny。　　At　the　moment　Great　Britain

possesses　about　500　machines；　of　which　about　200　are　waterplanes。

In　addition；　according　to　the　Secretary　of　the　Admiralty；　15

dirigibles　should　be　in　service。　　Private　enterprise　is　supported

by　the　Government；　which　maintains　a　factory　for　the　manufacture

of　these　craft。



During　the　two　years　preceding　the　outbreak　of　war　the　various

Powers　grew　remarkably　reticent　concerning　the　composition　and

enlargement　of　their　respective　aerial　fleets。　　No　official

figures　were　published。　　But　at　the　same　time　it　is　a　well…known

fact　that　during　the　year　1913　France　augmented　her　flying　force

by　no　fewer　than　544　aeroplanes。　　Germany　was　no　less　energetic；

the　military　acquisition　in　this　branch；　and　during　the　self…same

year；　approaching　700　machines　according　to　the　semi…official

reports　published　in　that　country。



The　arrangements　concluded　for　the　manufacture　of　additional

craft　during　the　war　are　equally　remarkable。　　The　principal

factory　in　Germany；　（now　devoting　its　energies　to　the　production

of　t