BRITISH AVIATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12282, 8 July 1914, Page 8

BRITISH AVIATION.

Of the Supplementary Naval-Estimates recently introduced by Mr Churchill, £260,000 is required for aeronautics. The Admiralty has on order eight airships, which, together- with two sheds, will cast £475,000. Of this sum only £200,000 falls to be spent in the current year: the difference between this amount and the £260,000 required is to be expended on .seaplanes. Messrs Vickers are supplying four of'the eight airships—one large rigid airship of the Zeppelin type, which will be built entirely in Great Britain, and three smaller ones of the non-rigid type, which will be partially constructed abroad. Three large semi-rigid airships, of the Foi-huiini design, have been ordered from Messis Armstrong, and of these one only will be constructed abroad. The one other airship ordered is of the Astra-lorre? 11011rigkl type, and is being constructed in France." Something is therefore being done to foster the home industry in this branch of war material, but the programme, admittedly, does not compete effectively with that of either France or Germans-', and whether, as suggested by the First- Lord, - Britain's position with regard to seaplanes is sufficient to compensate for the deficiency is open to question. Some interesting facts relating to the state of aviation ill the army wore given bv Colonel Seely in his memorandum In "the Army Estimates for the coming v'ear. during which £1,000,000 is required for this branch of the. service. Oi these.'perhaps, the most- notable . is that, ilie army airships were bawled over to tli'.' naval authorities at the ; beginning oi this year, and that, in future,-' l.ighter-than-air craft for both naval and military service will be under the administration of the Admiralty.