FRENCH AEROPLANES.

Military Aviation.

In February, 1912, the then total of 208 effective aeroplanes were divided into "squadrillas" consisting of eight aeroplanes; attached to these eleven or twelve motor cars, one traction car and one fast car, also a repairing car and repairing van.

It was then estimated that at the end of 1912, 344 aeroplanes would be available for service.

The estimated personnel was provisionally fixed at 234 officer pilots, 210 scouts, 42 mechanics, 110 officers, 1,600 corporals or sappers and 550 privates.

Approximately £880,000 was spent in aviation during 1912, and £1,000,000 was estimated for future years.

The French military aviation centres are all upon somewhat the same footing as fortresses, and the greater part of the work comes under the head of "confidential." The principal school is at St. Cyr, which was specially selected because the ground is rough and mostly covered with small shrubs: it being held important to train officers from the first to rise and land on ground similar to that most likely to be found in war time. Each station is supplied with large portable wooden-framed hangars covered with canvas. These can be rapidly taken to pieces and re-erected. Each station is supplied with its own special motor transport.

All military machines are provided with a compass and map case in front of the pilot and sketching apparatus in front of the observer.

Although a few non-commissioned officers have been taught flying, the organization only contemplates the employment of commissioned officers as pilots. The age limit is 38.

On April 16th, 1913, the flying corps was modified. The principal features of the corps as now existing are as follows:—

Establishments.

Schools.

Special establishments, dealing with purchase, construction, and big repairs.

Directions. Administration of material.

Depots. A species of dockyards dealing with minor repairs, etc.

Administration.

There are three main groups, each commanded by a colonel. Each group consists of dirigibles and aeroplane "escadrilles," and is fully equipped with establishments, etc. The three centres are:—

Versailles.

Reims.

Lyon.

General.

All squadron units are made up of machines of the same make and power. Pilots are detailed as required to any particular unit, and liable to transfer from one to another, though in practice such transfers are rare.

Army Aeroplanes.

During 1912 nearly 500 machines were delivered to the Army, but a great many old machines have been scrapped. At the end of March, 1913, the force stood at 421 effective for war machines, plus an uncertain number of school machines and obsoletes.

About one-third or more of the effective aeroplanes were Farmans. The rest consisted of all leading French types, proportionated more or less to the productive capacity of these firms. Also certain other makes experimental.

Navy Aviation.

The Navy section of French military aviation is still in the "being formed" process. No data are yet available as to the ultimate force to be provided. At present the number of effective war machines is small. It is made up of hydro-avions of the following types:—Astra, Borel, Breguet, Caudron, Deperdussin, Donnet-Leveque, Farman, Paulhan-Curtiss, Sanchez-Besa, the total at end of March, 1913, being well under 20. There are also two special Bleriot type fitted with floats, which carry 330 lbs of explosive, are fitted with wireless, have a speed of 140 km.p.h. (85 m.p.h.), and a radius of about 600 miles (1,000 km.)

PRINCIPAL FRENCH ARMY AND NAVY AVIATORS.

(In each case the number against each name is, unless otherwise stated, the Ae. C. French certificate pilot number.)

Army.

Abadie, Sous Officier Acevedo, Lieut. (740) Acquaviva, Lieut. Paul V. (68) Aiguillon, Lt. R.d' (308) Aubry, Lieut. Balensi, Capt. Albert (173) Bares, Capt. (543) Basset, Lieut. Paul (145) Battini, Lieut. G. (508) Baugnies, Lt. J. B. E. (193) Beatrix, Sous Officier Bellemois, Lieut. G. (546) Bellenger, Capt. M. (45) Berni, Lieut. (760) Biard, Capt. G. M. (261) Bihan, Lieut. Binda, Lieut. Louis (232) Blard, Lieut. (460) Bobillier, Lieut. Boerner, Lieut. Boissonas, Lieut. (443) Bon, Lieut. Boncour, Lieut. (478) Bonnier, Lieut. (478) Bonnier, General (137) Boucher, Lieut. Bousnuet, Lieut. P. (295) Breley, Lieut. Brenot, Capt. Brouchard, Lieut. Brugiere, Lt. Brule, Lieut. (436) Bruncher, Lieut. Burgeat, Capt. M. (44) Camerman, Lieut. F. (33) Camine, Capt. Campagne, Lieut. (782) Casse, Capt. (415) Chabert, Lieut. Charoux, Sous Officier Chavenac, Lieut. E. (551) Cheutin, Lt. E. J. (233) Chevreau, Lieut. R. (132) Clavenad, Lieut. P. (294) Clerc, Lieut. (465) Clolus, Commdt. G. (97) Couret, Lieut. Coville, Capt. D'Abrantes, Lieut. D'Aquillon, Lieut. De Beruis, Lieut. De Caumont, Capt. De Chanac Lanzac, Capt. De Geyer, Lieut. De Gorge, Lieut. (805) De Goys, Capt. De Lafargue (417) De L'Estrade, Lieut. De Rose, Lieut. P. (477) Destace, Capt. Destouches, Capt. Devarenne, Lieut. Devaulx, Lieut. R. (158) De Ville d'Avray, Lieut.

Didier, Sous Officier (765) Do-Ird, Lieut. Drevet, Sous Officier (753) Duparquet, Capt. Duperron, Capt. (196) Dupin, Lieut. Eteve, Capt. A. (89) Erstorac, Capt. Felix, Capt. J. (270) Fequant, Lieut. A. (63) Fequant, Lieut. P. (340) Fierstein, Sous Officier Francezon, E. (410) Foirelline, Lieut. Garnier, Lieut. (305) Garnier, Lt. (826) Gastringer, Lieut. Gaubert, Lieut. E. (313) Germain, Lieut. Girard, Lieut. J. (197) Gironde, Lt. A. de Godefroy, Sous Officier (583) Gouin, Lt. M. E. R. (348) Gourlez, Lieut. (521) Grezaud, S.-Lt. P. (265) Grailly, Lieut. (399) Gronier, Lieut. J. (138) Grandjean, Sapper Guibart, Lieut. Guiton, Sous Officier Hable, Sous-Lt. A. L. (257) Hugoni, Capt. E. (165) Hanouille, Lieut. Henequin, Lieut. Henri, Lieut. (497) Herli, S.-Lt. (257) Hurard, Sous Officier Issartier (531) Jacquet, Lieut. Joly, Lieut. F. (341) Jost, Lieut. R. G. (264) Kass, Capt. Langardt, Lieut. Laurent, Sous Officier (246) Le Beau, Capt. Le Bleu, Lieut. Lelievre, Lieut. E. (522) Lemasson, Lieut. (506) Le Mauget, Capt. Letheux, Lieut. G. (142) Letort, Sapper (170) Letourneur, Lieut. Lucca, Lieut. D. (154) Ludmann, Lieut. G. (255) Lussigny, Lieut. Machin, Lieut. Mailfert, Lieut. F. (146) Maillois, Lieut. J. (131) Malherbe, Lt. de (334) Maneyrol, Lieut. Manoha, Lt. Marc, Lt. Marconnet, Capt. (90) Marie, Capt. Felix (80)

Marlin, Lieut. Marmies, Lieut. Marty, Sous Officier (816) Massol, Lieut. Mauger, Lieut. Maurice, Lieut. Mazac, Lieut. (592) Migaud, Lieut. G. (501) Morel, Sous-Lt. P. (262) Morlaye, Lieut. la Mouchard, Lieut. Negre, Capt. Nicaud, Lieut. Nogues, Capt. (114) Normand, Lieut. F. (314) Pelloux, Sous-Lt. M. (346) Peraldi, Lieut. Peretti, Sous Officier Pierre, Lieut. Ponchet, Lieut. Prat, Lieut. Precardin, Lieut. Princetau, Lieut. Postulat, Sergt. Quennehen, Sous Officier Ragot, Lieut. Remy, Lieut. H. C. (143) Reynard, Lieut. (668) Rimbert, Lieut. Rocca-Serra, Lieut. Rochette, Lieut. J. (564) Rolland, Lieut. M. E. (545) Ronin, Lieut. Rougerie, Lieut. Sauleillon, Lt. A. (674) Saunier, Lieut. G. (153) Seguin, Sapper (528) Sevelle, Lieut. (747) Silvestre, Lieut. (599) Sido, Capt. Marie (65) Sourdeau, Lieut. A. (474) Soulielani, Lieut. Thomas, Lieut. (846) Thomas, R. (116) Touzet, E. (485) Tretane, Lieut. Tricornot de Rose, Lt. de (330) Vandamone, Lieut. (535) Van de Vaero, Lt. (491) Vandine, Lieut. Varcin, Lieut. Vaudein, Lieut. Verdier, Sous Officier (538) Vibra, Lieut. Vigne, Lt. Henri (315) Vinda, Lieut. Vitra-Rougerie, Lieut. Vocayeau, Lieut. Vogoya, Capt. Vuilliereme, Lt. L. (174) Watteau, Lieut. Willemenz, Lieut. (759) Yence, Lieut. R, (220)

Naval.

Byasson, Lt. de V. (175) Cayla, Lieut. (458) Conneau, Lieut. (322) "Beaumont" Davelny, Comdt.

Delage, Lieut. G. (219) Fournier, Lieut. Hautefille, Lieut. (247) Lafon, Lt. (194)

Leve, Lieut. (243) Parasa, Lieut. (179) Reymond, Lieut. (206)