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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 150, 31 July 1914, Page 6

Roger Bacon, a dreaded magician to the unscientific minds of the thirteenth century, is credited with having foretold the conquest of the air by flying machines, "if one sit in the midst of an instrument, and do turn an engine, by which the wings, being artificially composed, may beat the air after the manner of a flying bird." In these days the bird-men race express trains, cross the Alps, and challeuge the flights of the eagles. To-day, Servian aviators are scouting on the Austro-Servian frontier, as American 'planes were hovering yesterday over Vera Cruz. If the preseut disturbance in South East Europe should throw the groups of Powers into deadly grips, the capacities of the aeroplane as an effective factor in war will be exhaustively tested. Italy used aerial scouts to great *ad vantage in Northern Africa, and during the recent campaign be *,ween Turkey and the Bulgars, expert airmen proved invaluable in mating swift reconnaissances. France led the world in the early stages of aviation, and she leads the world to-day in speed machines. Her marvellous engines arc the wonder of the nations. Her intrepid pilots have outsoared and outdriven her most determined rivals. In military manoeuvres swarms of French 'planes have demonstrated to a remark able degree their efficiency in following the movements of large bodies of troops. France has created a network of air stations along the Franco-German frontier, and her warplanes number a round thousand. Germany is overfull of aviators, as a recent eablie attests; This Power, who has devoted huge sums to long-range airships and costly sheds, has concentrated her aerial' bases within flying distance of the coast of England. Powerful craft, capable of rcmaiiiing aloft thirty hours, are available for oversea reeounaissance. Britain has developed her flying corps on sound lines. She has specialised, as has France, in fast flying warplanes, some of which have been fitted with wireless apparatus. Effectively armoured and armed airships and seaplanes and waterplanes are still a problem of tlio-future, but the racing monoplane is bound to play a very prominent part, in the big test between the groups of Powers.