The New York herald., 1921-03-06


England has dropped out of the all
as far as commercial flying is con-
cerned and definitely has relinquishec
her claims to leadership in aviation
The clouds causing the limitation OF
this activity, as predicted in des-
patches to THE NEW YORK HERALD sew
eral weeks ago, have been gathering
for long time owing to the necessity
Of high prices due largely, the com
panies say, because the Government
neglected to take action to safeguard
legitimate business flying.
Business flying volplaned sharply
this week when the Handley Page
Company, the largest company ir
operation, suspended it's service be-
tween Paris and London, shelved its
ambitions to connect UP the larger
cities Of western Europe and Is nov
wondering how it can dispose of its
spacious flying fields. 1t is the last
Of the famous British companies tc
come down after setting such promis-
ing precedent Immediately after the
armistice.
The Airco, tho first company tempo
rarily to run a London to Paris line.
was forced to quit three months ago.
explaining that It's war machines could
not compete with the larger passenger
carriers and that 1t could not afford to
buy new ones because 1t was not get
ting any encouragement from the Gov
ernmont.
British Service Ended.
England now has no planes conmut-
ing to the Continent, and the discour-
agement has caused an apathy even
worse than that IN America after the
armistice. While the English ships
have been riding the bumpy air since
last fall they really have been forced
down by French competition. The
French Government has substantially
subsidized its struggling companies,
which has enabled the French COM
panies to cut the London-Paris price In
two. 1t Is now possible to commute by
air as cheaply as by water, and even
cheaper. figuring the meal on the boat
and customs tips. AS soon as the
Handley Page Company heard this an
nouncement from Paris 1t ordered the
doors Of its hangers closed.
Hitherto the price has been ten
auineas. Now the French charge zoe
francs, or between S and guineas. sw-
ing to the rate Of exchange.
Here is the extent OF the aid the
French are getting from their Govern
ment: Each company received by way
Of subsidy francs for each kilometer
flown by plane provided by single
engine. and IL francs if flown by twin
engine machines. In addition the Gov
ernment guarantees SO per cent or the
money required for aircraft construc-
ton. Each company, in order to come
under this subsidy advantage, must
have a minimum of fourteen twin en-
gine planes and twenty-eight single en-
gine planes The French Government
also IS doing everything possible to In
eure an adequate supply of pilots. Men
Who have served in the French air SER
VIC. are invited to use the Government
airdromes and machines and petrol Is
placed at their disposal for practice
f,ights. The life of one who Is training
"a become a pilot Is insured by the Gov
eminent for $4,000 francs for each
flight which compares favoraoly with
Americas soldier insurance In wartime.
Also the Government indemnifes the
owners ogainst damage to their ma
chimes
French Get Results.
In all the sum of 33.o00,000 francs
has been devoted to this work and the
French arc getting results from this
money. BY way OF comparison England
Is spending f1,000.000 on aviation Of
which $4,000 goes to meteorological
research and administrative charges.
The remainder Is governed by what the
airplane companies assert to be quito
impracticable terms. being allotted on a
percentage of the gross receipts for
passengers and freight. In addition to
the other aids the French are conducting
a publicity campaign to popularize flying
while everything here tends to discour-
age II.
Belgium is doing even moro than
either country to popularize flying. The
fare from here to Brussels now Is 17b
francs, from Brussels to Paris $50
francs This makes the air rate to Brus-
sells from here ccheaper than tho trip
by boat and in addition the air route
has many other advantages. chief OF
which, of course, is the saving OF time.
The Belgians are trying to build up
their air service and to extend II both
east and west and they have succeeded
20 such an extent that England can't
compete.
Handiey Page himself says that the
outlook for British commercial aviation
is distinctly bad and that before long
there will be practically none. II is
known. however, that the Air Ministry is
alarmed and is carefully considering tho
position that has developed out OF the
French challenge. and hopes still are
entertained that there Will be an an
nouncement soon from the Government
that help will be given civil companies
TO aid them In meeting the highly sub
sidized foreigners.
Dutch Replace English.
when the British people sec the
Fosker flying across England regularly
from London 10 Liverpool en- route to
Amsterdam they will perhaps wake up"
says Mr.. Holt-Thomaa, one OF the lead
Ing authorities on aviation in England
"Such an invasion is now inevitable Al
big service IL being started by tho Dutch
from Amsterdam TO London this sum-
mer, and they will have n station nj
accommodate passengers on American
liners"
The service between London and
Copenhagen, which II was proposed 10
open in the spring. has now been aban-
doned. This inability Of the British to
operate will also prevent the reopening
OF the Copenhagen Berlin service be-
cause the Allies prohibit Germans from
taking part in foreign mir traffic, and Il
is impossible to maintain the connection