LAND AND WATER. 
March 27, 1915. 
and tbus enable them to enter into the manufacture of the 
urgently required articles. 
I believe that it the Government could see its way to 
offer business to various firms at a definite price, and at the 
same time allow the firms, should tliat price be too low for 
them, to state at what price they could undertake the work, 
it would be found that a very large number of small firms 
could supply a considerable amount of material to the satis- 
faction of the Government departments concerned. 
Lord Kitchener in his speech requests that firms having 
men and machinery at liberty should place them at the 
disposal of the Government, but he does not say how this can 
be quickly and effectively done. Those of ua who are already 
receiving' inquiries from certain Government departments, 
and yet are not fully employed, would be glad to get into 
touch quickly with other departments who are requiring 
goods such as we can satisfactorily manufacture, while firms 
who are not on any Government department's list, equally 
desire a simple and quick method of obtaining suitable work. 
I remain, yours faithfully, 
OXE OF THE PrISOIPALS OF ANOTHER SlIALL FiRM. 
Manchester. 
"THE DIFFERENT SPEEDS OF AIV AEROPLANE." 
To the Editor of L.'^nd axd Water. 
Dear Sir, — With reference to his letter in your issue of 
the 13th inst., " Enquirer " may be interested in the follow- 
ing information. His question (6). While there is no small 
book published that covers the whole ground of possible 
inquiries relating to aeroplane capabilities, the need for such 
book is not felt if one is well grounded in the fundamental 
principles, and these may fairly well be grasped by the study 
of " The Mechanics of the Aeroplane " (1912) and " Flight 
.Without Formulx " (1914), both translations from French 
works by Comm. Duchene, published by Longmans, Green 
and Co. at 7s. 6d. net. The feature of these works is their 
clearness and simplicity, and the absence of mathematics 
renders them easily understandable by the layman. 
His question (4). While it is true that in the particular 
machine referred to by Dr. Glazebrook the speed is con- 
trolled by adjustment of the angle of attack of the machine 
as a whole, it should be borne in mind that it is quite feasible 
to vary the speed by other means in suitably designed 
machines. For example, subsidiary aerofoils may be used as 
air brakes, or the angle of incidence of the wings alone may 
be altered relatively to the body of the machine, either with 
or without alteration of the camber of the wings. 
Yours faithfully, 
Bertram G. Cooper, 
Secretary and Editor, Aeronautical Journal. 
11, Adam Street, Adelphi, London, W.C. 
KHAKI. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir, — The majority of people, if they think about the 
matter at all, imagine that " khaki " is a product of recent 
years. This is not so. 
" Khaki " was used in India as far back as the late 
'GO's or early 'TO's for soldiers' uniforms in the hot weather, 
the material used being a kind of cotton drill. A similar 
material has been in use in Arabia and by the Fireworshippers 
of Persia from time immemorial, and is in use to-day in 
Persia for making their outer robes, the material being made 
from a natural self drab-coloured cotton which is still culti- 
vated in small quantities in some parts of Persia — notably 
Kashan and Yazd; the stuff, of course, being entirely home- 
made — i.e., grown, spun, woven, and made into garments, 
which, by the way, are very durable. All these processes of 
production have come under my own personal observation. 
We read in the Press that our manufacturers are hard- 
pressed to provide a sufficient supply of " khaki " material 
for our now Army; but we have, surely, in the cultivation and 
'development of this particular cotton a potential means of 
securing our future supply of, at any rate, cotton " khaki " 
absolutely irrespective of the supply of " dye stuffs." 
A supply of seed of this cotton could easily be obtained, 
and India, Egypt, and Africa could doubtless do the rest in 
the course of four or five years. 
The plant is a healthy grower, with strong branching 
Laulms, full pods, and a long and strong staple. These 
qualities could, no doubt, be readily improved upon by the 
cotton -growing experts in the countries above-named. 
I wonder if this will be of sufficient interest to the 
authorities and manufacturers to merit their consideration ! 
»— Yours obediently, 
B. W. Stainton. 
"LAND & WATER" WAR LECTURES. 
PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME. 
Widespread interest has been aroused in the Land and 
Water Lecture Scheme c^i behalf of Queen Alexandra '.i 
Field Force Fund. As our readers know, these illuminating 
lectures have been arranged from the articles by Mr. Belloc 
and Mr. Blin Desbleds appearing week by week in our 
columns, and, in remote country villages and large towns 
alike, audiences have followed the skilful arguments and 
peuetrating analyses with keen appreciation. 
The purpose of the scheme is two-fold — to extend tha 
advantage of the most expert war criticism available and to 
render substantial aid to an organisation that has done 
splendid work iu brightening the lot of our gallant soldiers 
at the front. 
Financially Queen Alexandra's Field Force Fund haj 
reaped no inconsiderable benefit, and it is hoped that publio 
men, clergymen, literary societies, &c., in districts not yet 
touched will respond to our invitation in even larger numbers, 
and so still further augment a fund that needs every help 
possible to cope with the necessities of the new armies ready 
anon for the front. 
Eager as every patriot is to do everything within mortal 
power to help our troops, but for Queen Alexandra's Field 
Force Fund much effort v.ould be lost and much waste in- 
curred for lack of proper organisation and facilities. 
W'orking in direct co-operation with the War Office, tho 
Fund supplies comforts to the units in the field with the 
utmost economy and absolute fairness of distribution. 
It enjoys special facilities for cheap purchase of articles 
required and for free transmission of these and gifts iu kind 
straight to the men. 
This is how it is done. Our readers will agree that a 
better system could hardly be adopted. Instead of supply- 
ing the articles on the principle of "so many men " so man/ 
cardigan jackets, or pairs of socks, or pounds of tobacco, as 
the case m.ay be — a method obviously unfair and wjfsteful, 
since some soldiers are well provided for by their friends, 
while others, perhaps the greater number of whole regiment"}, 
have no friends, or have friends too poor to send them gifts — 
instead, it is arranged that the Commanding Officers send 
lists from time to time of the precise things their men want. 
The saving is enormous. 
Our soldiers' needs are not diminishing as time goes on, 
but increasing. To tlie glory of England the enormous 
armies that have been in training for so many mouths past 
will be sent with all speed to reinforce those already at the 
front and to help strike the decisive blow. In tlie trenches 
these new men will want comforts — the comforts that are 
" necessaries " there. How very urgent is the need for 
money and supplies will be readily seen. 
With one exception, the lectures are illustrated by slides 
prepared from the maps and plans appearing in Land and 
Water. Thus the clearness of the subject-matter as regards 
arrangement and terminology is heightened by diagrammatic 
reference easily followed by the audience. In most instances 
additional slides of topical interest are provided. 
So far, four lectures have been prepared, their titles 
giving readers who have followed the war articles in theso 
columns sufficient clue to the material utilised. 
(1) "The Failure of German Strategy." 
(2) "The Deadlock in the West." 
(3) " Can Aircraft End the War? " 
(4) " How Long Will the War Last? " 
Each lecture is complete in itself, but where a series can 
be given it is usually advisable to follow the above order. 
Texts of the lectures and full particulars will be sent to 
applicants who can arrange for public meetings, at which 
there should always be a collection on behalf of Queen 
Alexandra's Field Force Fund, except where, in the same 
interest, a charge is made for admission. To save local 
expense, partially printed posters and other advertising 
matter are supplied free. Letters should be addressed : 
The Hon. Secretary, 
Queen Alexandra's Field Force Fund, 
24a, Hill Street, 
Knio'htsbrido'e, S.W. 
The success so far achieved has been extremely gratifying 
to the Field Force Fund Committee, and no less to ourselves, 
whose privilege and pleasure it was to initiate the scheme. But 
to the scope aud usefulness of the idea there is no necessary 
limit. Not a town or village iu the kingdom but should hava 
its War Lectures to arouse patriotic interest and enthusiasm. 
All that is wanted is the response of public-spirited citizens 
willing to spend a little time and interest iu a cause most 
worthy. 
Printed by The Victoru House PttiNirsa Co., Lts>., Tudor Street, Whitefriars, London, E.G. 
