§ Mr. FELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been directed to the recent order of the French War Office that the use of monoplanes in the aviation schools is to be discontinued until certain defects in their construction have been remedied; if a similar order has been issued by the War Office; and if the matter is being especially studied, having regard to this warning?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)Yes. The attention of the War Office has been called to this order. No special order has been issued by the War Office.
§ Mr. FELLasked what is the present condition of the Army dirigible airships; are they provided with crews for their navigation and are they navigated from time to time; and, if so, why do they not visit London so that the public may have the same opportunity of seeing them that the public in Paris and Berlin have from time to time?
§ Colonel SEELYIn answer to the first part of the question there are two airships at present available for service. They are provided with crews which can navigate them and do so from time to time. I do not see how the suggestion in the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question can be followed as they are fully engaged in training officers.
§ Mr. FELLAre they really making occasional flights as those in France and Germany do, or is it the fact that they are only kept within the sheds at Aldershot and do not make any flights?
§ Colonel SEELYThey are capable of making extensive flights, but they are used chiefly for training officers. I do not think that bringing them to London, as suggested by the hon. Gentleman, would be the best way of achieving that object.
§ Mr. LEEWhat has become of the Clément-Bayard airship which was taken over by the Government? Has any attempt been made to make use of it since it was purchased?
§ Colonel SEELYIf the hon. Gentleman will put down a question with regard to the Clément-Bayard, I will give him a full account of it.
§ Mr. FELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how much is to be spent this year on the construction or purchase of dirigible airships for use with the Army; how much on the training of crews to navigate them; and if his attention is being directed to the increasing numbers of these airships constructed on the Continent and to the use that is being made of them by the Italian Army in the operations in Tripoli?
§ Colonel SEELYPerhaps the hon. Member will put down this question again, as I have not got the figures with me at present.