AERONAUTICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 409, 19 January 1909, Page 5

AERONAUTICS.

"THE TIMES" SUGGESTS A COMMISSION ITS MANY USES. PEACEFUL—WARLIKE-SCIENTIFIC. fur TELEqitArn—pkess association—coPYMGirr..) (Rec. January 18, 9.52 p.m.) London, January 18. In a special article, "The Times" recommends the appointment of a Royal Commission on Aeronautics, which shall have two departments of activity—one public,' the other secret—each department being again subdivided into several branches. Matters of investigation, concerning which the Commission shell maintain secrecy, include ;—Military and naval applications of airships, types of machines, systems of attack and defonce, and airships for colonial defence. The following subjects, it is suggests, would bo investigated in public:—The . present position of aeronautics, types of vessels, schemes for the promotion of international aortal laws for peace and war, recommendations regarding the uses of airships in war time, consideration _of international open routes open to all'airships, and applications of airships to scientific research and exploration. The confidential portion of the investigations would be reserved for the benefit of the British naval and military authorities. "The Times" adds that, with the services of the Duke of Argyll, J/ord Montagu of Beaulieu, Admiral Edward Seymour, Major B. Baden-Powell, and Mr. W. J. Lancaster (civil engineer, Admiralty service), it would bo p'pssiblo to constitute tho nucleus of a Commission which w,ould be able to approach the subject frpm every standpoint, and to prepaid an invaluable report. The leading nations would bo invited £o assist in .ionnection with the public section of the work, and to send delegates. .Thus the labours of the Commission would be of practical service to the whole of the civilised world. .. DUKE OF ARGYLL'S WARNING. A warning to Great Britain against its sleepy attitude towards the momentous question of aerial flight, particularly in its relation to a possible invasion from the clouds, was stv th%ts°oPi^r r on Decemoirigiblo balloon and the aeroplane, it has already been demonstrated beyond question that no country nowadays may ba, said to possess a frontier, declared his Grace. "All are liable ekv overlookod and s P ie d' upon from tho ''I am told that one of these dirigible ballo°ns can lift into the air ami carry a weight of thirteen or fourteen hundred pounds One can irnagmo that such a machine suspended with punitive intent over a great commercial city might'make itself extremely disagreeable. . '■ Tv'Z he J? 3 f '« ing , ,*¥ 2 ould the Duke added, "would be for someone-prefer-ably a German, a Frenchman, or an American -to. cause one of-those .large dirigible.balloons to hang for a time straight over the Bank of iinelonq. It would cause wonderful excitement and bring home forcibly to the people the fact that we can no longer keop England entirely to ourselves. , Specially trained men are evidently necessary to work these' dirigible balloons and aeroplanes. A vital necessity has surely arisen for us to have such men under training in England." /, ■ . ■■ - "Permanent success in ; the aerial problem lies undoubtedly with the aeroplane," said Mr Roger Wallace,.K.C., president of the club. ' ~lhe conquest of the North Pole by. dirigible airship is .attracting renewed interest in iiuropo, and an organised effort may shortly be made. . , ..,....■ . ; . .. • ~■>, ~J , .