FRENCH AIR ARMY.

North Otago Times, 11 April 1912, Page 4

FRENCH AIR ARMY.

PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIONS.

According to a Paris correspondent a great national movement is afoot for equipping the French army with the finest aerial fleet in the world, The agitation baa. been strengthened by, the action of the Government is ! sitting aafla '£l, for the complete reorganisation of the French, army air corps.

The airship and the aeroplane are to We the fourth and fifth arms respectively of- tne military M. Millerand, the War Minister, who is taking every opportunity to encourage the revival of patriotism is determined that Franco slull keep the advantage she already possesses in tae air owr oilier nations. At the c .id of ihj yh\r the French army will be able to mobilise ;; 11 machines and S.'il officer airmen, with a compltie equipment of mechanics, sappers, and pupils. AI. Eeymond, tlie Senator, who m order to get a thorough grip 0 f the subject, has become an expert airffinn i and has visited the lonstituent3 by aeroplane, has now placed himself at the head of a national committee to supplement the e'lorta of the Government. At a recent

meeting a t the SorL'pnne a collection made in the caps of the oSicers present Brought in £i;o in five minutes. M. Miehelin immediately subscribed £4OOO. M. Henry Dentah de la Mcurthe, one of the earliest patrons of aeronautics, and the General Aeronautic Association, promis cd mi aeroplane each, while various ■departments and cities of France promised to furnfeh aeroplane and balloon sheds, 'flying grounds, and barracks for airmc-n.

A group o! municipal councillors of Paris propose to present six aeroplanes to the army, and a vote will doubtless be ratified at tne next mooting cf the council, A motion lias been submitted to the council general of the Senate to open a iiepartaental (lying school. The townj of Bar-VDuc, the birthplace of M.l Poincare, (ho Prime Minister, hasj pronised the ground for a military;, aerodromo, which will form an im-i Fortant link in the chair of army! Hying ground along the eastern: frontier. i The Dona; Municipal Council has voted ixcoo for turning the La Brayeli'o flying ground into a military aerodrome, The municipality of Nancy has offered an aeroplane, to he called General Langlois, in memory of that distinguished officer, wno died recently, to the 2%h Army Corps, and the Government, tit a recent Cabinet Council, acceptM the tier on the, understanding that tho choice of the apparatus is left to the military authorities. The National Fund received a pathetic subscription of 4s 2d from the eight pensioners who guard Napoleon's tomb.