AFGHAN ROYALTIES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 66, 19 March 1928, Page 9

AFGHAN ROYALTIES

A MORNING AT HENDON STIRRING AEROBATICS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, 18th March. The King and Queen of Afghanistan witnessed a Stirring display of military aviation at Hendon aerodrome yesterday morning. Over 100 machines with picked pilots took part. King Amanullah, with Sir Francis Humphreys, tho British Minister at Kabul, at his side interpreting, was greatly impressed. His Majesty wore the uniform of the Eoyal Afghan Air Force, with gold crossed swords below gold wings on his breast. Queen Souriya sat besido. Lady Humphreys, who interpreted for her, and Lady Maud Hoare, wife of the Air Minister. Sir Samuel Hoare, the Air Minister, Air-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard, and Air-Marshal Sir_. John Salmond were with tho Royal party. The item which pleased King Ainanullah more than anything else was a thrilling display of aerobatics by two daring young pilots, Gray and Barlow. With perfect grace and rhythm they went through a series of amazing antics, climbing vertically sky-spinning upwards—which is ono of the most difficult aerobratic feats—and falling dizzily to a low altitude, whence they swooped up again over King Amanullah's head. A flight of great bombers rose with a roar and climbed to a dizzy height, then dropped almost perpendicularly to within about 50 feet of the ground and loosed their smoke bombs on a dummy camp, which quickly burst into flames,, and was reduced to ashes. The King was much impressed by the ■ fact that every single bomb, hit; its ' mark. . :' IN A SUBMARINE. King Ainanullah will create a precedent to-morrow when ho makes a twenty-mile cruise in. Submarine L 22. For a considerable part of the time lie will travel under water, and will experience the thrill o,f torpedoing a British battleship. He will be the ' only Monarch who has ever mado a submarine trip under what will be very largely service conditions. Among the escorting vessels will be the minesweeper Alresford, from the deck of which Que'en Souriya will watch the progress of L 22. In order that she may better follow the manoeuvres of the submarine it will submerge only to a depth of about 25ft so that.its periscope will be visible above- the surface of the sea. L 22, commanded by Lieutenant-Corn-, mander Stephens, is ono of the finest of ■her class. She is 238 ft long, and carries a crew of 40. Her armament, consists of a quick-firing gun and four torpedo tubes. Eear-AdmiVal Grace, RearAdmiral of submarines, will be present in L 22 to explain to King Amanullah the various manoeuvres. When L 22 leaves harbour sho will fly the Afghan Standard, and. Royal salutes will bo fired. King Amanullah will acknoweldgo tho salutes from a position in the conning tower, where he will remain until the submarine reaches Stokes Bay, when he will descend into: the interior of tho boat in preparation for its submersion. Then will come the most exciting incident.1 Tho King will be conducted to the bows of L 22, where her torpedo tubes are situated. Into one of these a 21in torpedo with a dummy head will be loaded, and this the King will fire at a battleship, the whole- practice being carried out as in actual warfare. QUEEN SEES IDEAL HOME. > The Queen of Afghanistan on Friday afternoon paid a surprise visit to Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia. It had been arranged originally that she should accompany King Amanullah to Birmingham, but she, decided to remain in London. Thus, while King Amanullas was inspecting works and factories at Birmingham, his Queen was getting an insight into English home life in its most up-to-date features. Although no official announcement was made of her intended visit, when she arrived a large crowd was waiting to greet hor. The first exhibition which the "Queen ihspected was tho house of the'future — a Utopian residence in which are visualised many of tho wonders which, it is anticipated, will add to the daily comforts''of householders in the year 2000 A.D.