Page:Aircraft in Warfare (1916).djvu/229

Rh directions as aeronautical or mechanical engineering, manufacturing, naval architecture, business management (organisation), finance, etc., and including the Superintendent of the Factory. In view of the fact that the future of the new Arm has yet to be determined, and in view of the vital importance of this future, it would seem desirable that certain Cabinet Ministers, such as the Minister of War and the First Lord of the Admiralty, should ex officio be members of the Board. This may possibly appear to be- giving unnecessary importance to the idea, but it must be remembered that the existing Arms of the Services, during the earlier stages of their history, were considered of sufficient importance for the most minute and detailed attention of kings and princes, and the new Arm might almost claim as its right similar solicitude from those on whom the burden of office has fallen.

The duties and functions of the proposed Board would be in nowise limited to the aircraft themselves, but would extend to aircraft and counter-aircraft armament, and, further, to all questions of materiel ancillary to the employment of aircraft in the Services, including aeroplane vessels or ships.

The duties and constitution of the Advisory Committee for Aeronautics would remain as at present, being in no way affected. In some few cases it is possible that questions touching the work done at the Royal Aircraft Factory would be referred to the new Board in place of the Advisory Committee. The arrangements regulating the Board in the matter of expenditure would need to be, on a basis compatible with the responsibilities; a refusal or a cutting down by the Treasury of the requisitions by the Board, either annual or supplementary, should be rendered next to impossible. It would suffice for the purpose if, in case