What happened this Month 100 years ago - the run up to war" ?

[margaretdufay]

Here is another snippet on the evolution of aeroplane technology

Charles Rumney Samson, who had been the first person to fly an airplane off of the deck of a ship (on May 9, 1912) became the first person to fire a machine gun from an airplane in flight. Samson was flying over Eastchurch.^[25]

[centurion]

An apology I did promise to produce something by Feb 14. Unfortunately in the midst of replying to Pigjhils last posting about the GWF conference I had a heart attack and had to dial 999. I've just got back from the hospital with a stent and a bucket load of pills to take each day. I am effectively under house arrest (not allowed to drive for a month) I will still try and and produce something this February

[Bernard_Lewis]

Eh? Seriously?

Hope you're well soon.

Bernard

[centurion]

Eh? Seriously?

Very seriously!

[Bernard_Lewis]

Oh. Sorry to hear that and hope you're on the mend.

Bernard

[keithmroberts]

My very best wishes. Take care and I'm sure we all look forward to the resumption of normal service as soon as you are up to it.

Keith

[centurion]

Here is another snippet on the evolution of aeroplane technology

Charles Rumney Samson, who had been the first person to fly an airplane off of the deck of a ship (on May 9, 1912) became the first person to fire a machine gun from an airplane in flight. Samson was flying over Eastchurch.^[25]

Lt Milling fired a Lewis from a Wright B Flyer on June 1912 over College Park Maryland effectively cutting the target to pieces. This is long before Feb 1913

[Dragon]

I'm sorry to hear about your heart attack. Every good wish for your recovery. Look after yourself.

Gwyn

[Roger H]

Blimey Centurion. I thought you had been a bit quiet on the board. Wishing you the best.

Roger

[centurion]

Samson

Here is another snippet on the evolution of aeroplane technology

Charles Rumney Samson, who had been the first person to fly an airplane off of the deck of a ship (on May 9, 1912) became the first person to fire a machine gun from an airplane in flight. Samson was flying over Eastchurch.^[25]

Samson was the first to fly off a moving ship. Eugene Ely' had already flownhis Curtiss airplane off the anchored cruiser, USS Birmingham in 1910

[margaretdufay]

Hi Centurion,

have just arrived home and seen that you have not been well, hoping for a speedy recovery and your postings are great

regards

mags

[AlanCurragh]

All good wishes Robert - I suspect you'd rather we all talked about the war but even so, look after yourself

Alan

[bruce]

Can I add my best wishes for a full and complete recovery, Robert.

Bruce

[b3rn]

centurion, all the best ... I was holding out for the next installment

[hazelclark]

An apology I did promise to produce something by Feb 14. Unfortunately in the midst of replying to Pigjhils last posting about the GWF conference I had a heart attack and had to dial 999. I've just got back from the hospital with a stent and a bucket load of pills to take each day. I am effectively under house arrest (not allowed to drive for a month) I will still try and and produce something this February

Good grief Robert. You can't do stuff like that. You have a duty to keep all these deadbeats on this Forum in line. Being a Centurian must mean something when you are a proper General also. Everyone had better be nice to you and agree with everthing you say, (well, for a while maybe) or I will sic my bears and rattle snakes on to them. Snakes could be mailed but not sure about the bears - they are asleep at the moment anyway.

You had better put your feet up and RELAX and get better soon!

Hazel

[David B]

Cripes ! He's being giving us all a heart attack for years. But seriously, Mr C. I wish you well and hope to see your erudite transmissions shortly. Cheers

[Ian Riley]

Best wishes for recovery. Having spent November in hospital (rather longer than expected) and been told not to drive for a month and take it easy, I ended up surfing the net (and the GWF in particular after suffering withdrawal symptons) at two in the morning - and ending up shattered.

Take it easy

[SteveMarsdin]

Samson was the first to fly off a moving ship.

Look after yourself, Centurion......its almost surreal, as the messages of goodwill come in, they're interspersed with your posts that continue as if nothings happened !!! Please take care.

[Martin Bennitt]

All the best Robert. Hope you're recovered in time for the GWF conference.

cheers Martin B

[Pighills]

Hopefully what I said wasn't the cause of you being ill Robert (i know it was only co-incidental!).

Take care Robert, get better very soon - you'd better be at the conference, who else will I find interesting enough to talk to? a big for you to make you feel better .

[widavies]

Hi Centurion,

Sorry I've been been offline just a short while and then you go and do this to me/us. I hope you are coping well with the after effects and the unfortunate solutions!!

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Will

[Mick D]

all the best mate.

Mick

[margaretdufay]

Just saw this on the BBC web site and thought I would post it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-21549636

[centurion]

February 1913

Naval Affairs

• Tirpitz gaves a speech to the Reichstag budget committee in which he effectively accepts the naval forces proportion of 16-10 in Britain's favour proposed by Winston Churchill in 1912. At the same time Gottlieb von Jagow the new German Foreign Minister in his first speech refers to Anglo-German cooperation at the Conference of London: “The intimate exchange of views which we are maintaining with the British Government has very materially contributed to the removal of difficulties of various kinds which have arisen during the last few months… I am not a prophet, but I entertain the hope that on the ground of common interests, which in politics is the most fertile ground, we can continue to work with England and perhaps to reap the fruits of our labours.”
  
• On this basis of this Churchill proposes an immediate freeze on major warship construction a "battleship holiday". Tirpitz rejects this on the grounds that Germany's economy would be damaged if the shipyards were idle (a rather Keynsian like approach). The naval arms race continues.
  
• Four Queen Elizabeth class battleships are laid down (including HMS Barham)
  
• HMS Audacious King George V-class battleship commissioned (mined off Ireland in 1914)
  
• The US Congress votes $33 million increase in the Naval budget. USN general board agrees specifications of battleships to be ordered for 1914. Bids open in the USA for construction of two super dreadnoughts. Eventually results in WW1 USS Pennsylvania and USS Arizona
  
• Almirante Chocrane Battleship is laid down for Chile - she later became the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle
  
• Discussions are held between Britain and France as to naval responsibilities on the outbreak of war. Churchill signs agreement France will defend the Mediteranean and Britain the Atlantic and North Sea
  
• Vice Admiral Sir Percy Scott offered command of Australian Navy
  
• The first entry of cadets to the Royal Australian Naval College arrive at Geelong (3 are eventually to reach the rank of Admiral)
  
• Battlecruiser HMAS Australia sails for Devonport, Devon to begin her acceptance trials
  
• Battle cruiser HMS New Zealand leaves on 9 month flag showing cruise of the Dominions
  
• Admiral von Ingenohl, who was flying his flag in the battleship Friedrich der Grosse. takes command of Highs Seas Fleet 21 Battleships 2 Battlecruisers
  
• Anton Haus takes over the post of commander-in- chief of the KuK navy as Marinekommandant (Navy Commander) and Chef der Marinesektion (Chief of the Naval Section of the War Ministry). The KuK navy then carries out fleet manoeuvres
  
• Five u boats of the U7 class are ordered by the KuK they are subsequently sold to Germany.
  
• Sir Henry Jackson appointed Chief of the War Staff of the Admiralty.
  
• Naval exercises of Dreadnought and pre dreadnought battleships are carried out in Irish sea
  
• The Naval Radio Station, Arlington, Virginia begins operations. Starts pioneer ether wave experiments with the Eiffel Tower in France. U.S.S. Salem sails from the League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa., to Gibraltar with National Electric Signaling Co. and Navy experts embarked for the purpose of conducting the final acceptance tests of the Fessenden apparatus exchanging signals with Arlington
  
• Government effectively turns down requests for a Mid Scotland ship canal capable to taking warships from the North sea to the Irish sea - too expensive.
  
• USS Henderson worlds first specialised amphibious warfare ship completes fitting out, 64 officers and over 1200 OR marines carried
  
• Admiral Count Yamamoto Gonbee (not to be confused with the other Admiral Yamamoto) is appointed Prime Minister of Japan
  
• The Ottoman navy supports an amphibious assault at Sarköy in an attempt to retake it from the Bulgarians. Turgut Reis and Barbaros Hayreddin, along with two small cruisers provided artillery support to the right flank of the invading force once it went ashore.
  
• USS Colorado sent from San Diego to Maseatlan. USS South Dakota ordered to Acapulco and one battleship each to Vera Cruz and Tampico in the wake of General Victoriano Huerta seizing power in Mexico
  
• USN tests possibility of using heavy ships guns to sink/destroy ice bergs - a complete failure.
  

[margaretdufay]

Glad to see you back on form Centurion

mags