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permanently for many months to carry out systematic experiments. The "Hermes" has been selected for this service, and with the help of a destroyer or two for escorting the aeroplanes, it is hoped to make consider- able advance in this direction at an early date.

We are also trying to get out a design or hydro-aeroplane with hinging wings for stowage on board ship.

16. The Construction of Aircraft in this Country.

Some considerable progress has during 1912 been made with aeroplane and hydro-aeroplane construction in this country. There are some sixteen firms and the Royal Aircraft Factory capable of turning out good and reliable machines.

No progress has been made with the manufacture of airships.

The small "Willows" is satisfactory as far as she goes, but she is very fragile and only capable of taking two people in the air for short periods.

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To obtain moderate sized non-rigid airships for training purposes we have had to go to France for the Astra Torres," 6,500 cubic metres capacity and to Germany for the Parseval, 8,500 cubic metres capacity. Negotiations for the latter being arranged through Messrs. Vickers.

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Recently Messrs. Armstrong have asked for any information the Admiralty possess, as they contemplate taking up dirigible construction. Also Mr. Barber (of Valkyrie aeroplane fame) has approached the Admiralty with a scheme to build two rigids a-year, and also asks for some official encouragement should he prove successful.

17. Air Fleet Bill.

Many references have been made in the German press as to the possibility of an "Air Fleet Bill" being introduced at an early date under the combined auspices of the naval and military authorities.

Some of my advisers arc of opinion that the whole question of airships is very much like that of submarines when they first were introduced. The Navy did not want them. They have been very costly both in money and men, but we were forced to take them up because France had gone ahead in developing this arm for Naval purposes.

In these notes I have endeavoured to merely supply you with the facts and arguments as they are at present known to us, and I do not wish to be taken as expressing a decided opinion in favour of airships compared to aeroplanes.

In thanking you again for your paper, may I remark that it will give my colleagues and myself much pleasure to receive at any time helpful criticisms and any infor- mation or suggestions on these difficult air problems that we are now being faced with.

Yours very truly,

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL

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