New-York tribune., 1920-01-27
Italy and France
Main Competitors
OF Britain in Air
America Apparently Gives
England No Fears in
Aviation, According sc
London Ministrv's View
Nou York Tribune
FOREIGN Prsss Bureau

Nom York Tribune
FOREIGN Prsss Eurcrn
The progress Of civil aviation in
world powers Is reviewed by the Brit
ish Air Ministry in a Parliamentary
paper, a synopsis of which appeared in
the London Times" The Times
says:
at is pointed out that no country
except Great Britain has yet separate
Air Ministry, or q department CORE
spending to our Civil Aviation Depart
ment, but France and italy have sen.
70 foreign countries missions manned
b. sarvlce personnel in order 10 in
culcate 4 taste for their products
British firms have sent aircraft and
agents abroad, but the British govern
ment has not yet sent out any officia!
foreign missions.
"Britain's most serious con- petitors
in securing an international aircraft
trade are declared to be France, Italy.
and Germany. On the whole, however
, compared with that of other countries
British progress has been considerable.
Civil missions to foreign countries may
stlll prove of value. though the cost is
large. Propaganda is regarded as ot
prime necessity at home and abroad
Apart from missions, one of the best
methods OF carrying it cut abroad is
b demonstration flights. The sue
cessfu fight of the Atlantic both b,
aeroDlane and airshIp. for Instance.
largely increased the prestige OF Br'
ish aircraft. Combin action Dy q
number of firms IS preferred 70 isolated
action.
Commercial Attaches Needed
t'1hp rsror+ oIdL-
attaches are requisite for assisting
British trade In foreign countries, s.
are air representatives of great utiliiF
IN the same way. Hitherto service 81
attaches have combined the duties o.
service and civil work, but this plen
has not always proved q success from
fne civil point Of view though in ia
stances where the service air attach
has had commercial experience exec
lent results have been obtained Cor
siderable technical knowledge is csser
tlal. and those representing the ar
should haze flown themselves and w.
able 10 advise on the type OF machlnc
most fitted for use in the country 70
which thcy are accredited
he French arc raakng every cn
deavor both TO secure fore gG market
and assist internal Development Win
regard 70 civil aviation, the frencr
have adopted the principle OF subsla,
In the Near East France IS neglectinc
no effort 10 achieve aerial predom
nance, and military machines have been
1 carrying civil mAi-s ON various rol-e
Energetic pioneer work is being carries
out in Spain and Czecho- SlovaAi..
Missions have Been dispatched to the
Argentine and to Japan. where til.
French have established themselves
'lrmiy and are instructing Japanese o.
l.,
land, Peru, Poland, Siberia. SNitzer-
land and Turkey are also contemplated
by France and she is active in Greece
and IN Rumania, where il is important
tor British manufacturers to make q
bid for both military and civil ORDER
Italy s ondeavorlng by long
demonstration flights, by the dispatch
OF missions 20 the Argentine Bra1il.
Ecuador. Spain and Scandinavian cour-
tries, and py me gilt OF machines %
various countries. 10 press her aircraft
products and to obtain a footing in the
countries concerned.
Germany and Her Nerghbors
"'Of the late enemy countries b.
far the most serious competitor is
Germany. Partly TO avoid the terms
OF the peace treaty and partly 10 make
an early bid for foreign markets. larc.-
numbers Of aeroplanes and aercplane
engines have been sold al extremely
low figures to Norway. Sweden Hol
land. Denmark and Switzerland and
Germany mas secured substantial
footing. so Tar a ioas. "a the aero
plane IS concerned. in neighhoriric
countries. In her present endeavor -
develop CIVILIAN aircraft, both alrship
and aeroplane Germany apnareMtlv
holds that the leading commercial
power IN the air VIII have the strong
est air force IN the event Of war 4
policy of government subsidies, govern
mcnt retention OF aero lgomes. com
bined working Of all firms, and CO
operation between military and civil
services is foreshadowed Police pa
trols are in existence. and networl.
OF these patrols is to be established
throughout the country.
Germany has neglected no oppol
tunlty to obtain footing IN the putc'i
arplane trade. Partly owing to Her
Fokker's efforts and partly because 4
proportion OF Dutch merchants ar
pro-German, British products NAV pro,
ably have difficulty IN competing. Ihe
British and Dutch governments. how
ever. have agreed to the establishment
Of an aerial mail between the ,po
countries. ard It is hoped that tn
service viii shortly be instituted. J.
Spain foreign competition IS eXtromeIs
keen. and both the French and Italians
are making every effort to secure thu
market. Both countries We're first IL
the field with military machines. Tho
Germans lose no opportunity to
strengthen the geographical and other
ties that exist between Germany ana
Norway. Sweden and Denmark, and b.
propaganda and the flooding Of ,ne
countries with goods sold at very low
nrlCpS German 3rrraff i0dus+r-.
has already secured strong position
In Switzerland German influence pre-
dominates both in design and organiza-
tion
France and Italy are busy in the
South American states. and the United
States VIII probably seek to obtain ii
footing there. British firms. however.
have maze some headway and secured
important concessions "
Seaplanes to Race in Alaska