April 3, 1915. 
LAND AND J^ATEE. 
INFLUENCE OF AIR POWER.-IL 
SIR JOHN FRENCH'S MESSAGE. 
By L. BLIN DESBLEDS. 
NOTE.— Thu article has been submitted to tlie Press Bureau, which docs not object to the publication as censored, and talics no 
responsibiiity for the correctness of the statements. 
" ... I feel sure that no efiFort should be spared 
to increase their numbers and perfect their equipment and 
efficiency." 
IN these words Sir John French, in his report, dated 
November 20, 1914, concluded a stirring paragraph 
dealing with the invaluable services his aircraft had 
rendered him in times of groat stress. The importance 
of that message canot be overestimated. If aircraft 
are to have any considerable influence in shaping the course 
of the present war " no efforts should be spared to increase 
their numbers and perfect their equipment and efficiency." 
And here arise two very serious and pertinent questions : Are 
we doing our utmost and are we utilising to the full extent 
the resources of the country for aircraft construction ? These 
«re the questions to be examined now that the influence of 
«ir power has begun to be realised. 
And in order that the reader may, when considering these 
two questions, be in a position to judge for himself whether 
they can be answered in the affirmative or in the negative, it 
b necessary for him to know certain things about the pro- 
duction of aircraft. 
Before entering, however, upon the necessary explana- 
tions to enable tl'.e reader to grasp the present position of 
Great Britain's aircraft productivity, the writer wishes to lay 
stress upon the fact that, in writing this article, lie is solely 
actuated by the consideration and by the hope that it may 
prove useful to those responsible for the construction of our 
air fleet. He has no intention of criticising a Department 
which has risen splendidly to face an unprecedented situation 
and to undertake a work at least twenty times as great as 
that for which it was organised. It is to the great credit 
of our Aeronautical Department that its achievements are 
already sufficient to allow us to judge, in actual practice, of 
the possible ultimate influence of Air Power. 
An aeroplane in flying order consists of several hundred 
small parts, of metal or of wood, carefully put together. 
These parts themselves are simple of construction, and can 
be made in any fairly-well equipped workshop. Their manu- 
facture does not demand any considerable special knowledge 
nor any special experience. A good mechanic or wood- 
worker can easily produce them under proper supervision. 
The assembling of the parts to form complete machines is, 
however, a more difficult work and requires adequately trained 
men. It will thus be seen that, broadly speaking, aircraft 
construction depends upon two factors: (1) the making of 
parts; and (2) their erection. 
That there is a very great and pressing demand for aero- 
plane parts cannot be doubted. Tliese parts are not only 
required for the construction of the complete machines, but 
are also indispensable for repairs at the front. It is giving 
away no secret of the Allies' aeronautical organisation to say 
tliat each machine that is put into service requires a certain 
number of spare parts to make good, with as little delay as 
possible, the breakages which are inseparable from the 
employment of aircraft over unprepared ground. In fact, 
it has been estimated that, in the present stage of develop- 
ment of aeronautics, quite a third of the number of aircraft 
on active service is, at any one time, in the repair shops. It 
is, therefore, a matter of surprise that the full resources of 
the country for the manufacture of aircraft are not yet 
utilised, especially in view of Sir John French's message 
quoted at the commencement of this article. 
To supply the need of our army and its gallant Com- 
mander-in-Chief for a numerous and well-equipped air fleet is 
manifestly our duty, and no pains should bo spared, and no 
possible means neglected in this endeavour. Our Aeronautical 
Department has done magnificent work, and for its achieve- 
ments the country owes it a debt of gratitude. But the fact 
must be faced that this department is now taxed to its utmost, 
end is not organised on a scale sufllcient to meet the un- 
expected situation arising out of the v.'ar. 
To the exces.sive demands made upon our Aeronautical 
Department must be ascribed the three following causes of 
delay which hinder it from taking full ad\'antage of the 
industrial resources of the country. 
These causes are : 
1. Considerable delay in having the necessary material 
passed by the Government inspectors. 
2. Too much time is allowed to elapse between th« 
giving of consecutive orders. This is especially 
the case when orders are given to the smaller 
firms. 
3. Most serious. The manufacturers experience a 
great delay, in some cases extending over several 
months, before they are paid for the work done 
and the goods supplied. 
The elimination of these three unfortunate causes of 
delay brought about by the high pressure at v.liich our 
Aeronautical Department is now working, would, without any 
doubt, greatly accelerate our rate of aircraft production. 
And as well as the necessary removal of this check to 
the manufacture of aircraft due to the causes arising from 
an overtaxed organisation, there are also numerous sources 
of supply which would, if utilised, still further assist to in- 
crease our possible rate of aircraft production. As evidence 
that these sources of supply are as yet untapped, and are 
only waiting to be drafted into channels of usefulness, the 
writer will quote from a few of a great number of communi- 
cations which he has lately received fi'om industrial firms all 
over the country. 
In a letter dated February 17, 1915, a firm having 
already experience in the manufacture of aeroplane parts, 
says : ' ' We could easily make three times the quantity if we 
had the orders; the main difficulty is to get the material 
passed by the War Office inspectors. For instance, v/e have 
had one order on hand since December last and finished the 
tools early in the year, but we are still without the material, 
our customers informing us that they cannot send the steel 
as it has not yet been approved. As it seems to be only 
mild steel strip for the wire straiiiors there ought not to be 
this delay. Provided this obstacle could be removed, we could 
give immediate delivery, as we have the tools made." 
The manager of another engineering firm writes : 
" . . . . Several of our mechanics are at the front. . . . but 
we are decidedly short of work for those remaining, mostly 
over age, or could not pass the doctor. . . . The making of 
aeroplane parts would suit us very well, since we are well cut 
out for the work. . . . Should you be able to put some work 
in our way, we would all do our best to give satisfaction." 
On March 3 another firm, evidentlj^ not working to its 
full capacity, writes: "... We have excellent facilities 
for turning out in quantities small fittings, both in wood and 
metal." 
One of the largest contracting firms in this country 
writes: " We are of opinion that a considerable amount of 
our present machinery could be utilised . . . but, in all 
probability a certain amount of special machinery would be 
necessary. We feel convinced that should our plant be 
capable of doing the work without any large expenditure of 
money for special machinery, our directors would be only too 
pleased to be of any use to the Government in this way. . . ." 
From another letter : "I have a large factory equipped 
with up-to-date machinery, and, owing to the present slack- 
ness of trade, same is not being fully used, and I think I could 
undertake to manufacture any small parts in metal." 
" We have a large pattern-shop, foundry, forging, turning, 
and fitting shop," writes another manager. " We are at 
the present moment rather slack, and could give prompt and 
immediate attention to any work which you raight be able 
to place our way. We enclose you a photograph showing the 
interior of our erecting-shop, which will give you son'.e idea 
of the capacity of our works." 
The writer could give many similar extracts from the 
numerous letters he is receiving daily from industrial firms. 
Ho thinks, however, that the excerpte he has given are suffi- 
cient to show that there are yet a great number of engineering 
firms not working at their full capacity, and that these firms 
are willing, and are probably sufficiently wcll-equijjpcd, tC| 
carry out the construction of aeroplane parts. 
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