NEL. The
British had developed the waterplane as an essential auxiliary to naval
operations, and here was in advance of her rival, who had practically
neglected this line of experiment and evolution, resting secure in the
assurance of her advisers that the huge dirigibles would be adequate for
all exigencies on the water.

Indeed, when war was declared, all the Powers were found more or less
wanting so far as their aerial fleets were concerned. If Germany's huge
aerial navy had been in readiness for instant service when she invaded
Belgium, she would have overcome that little country's resistance in a
far shorter time and with much less waste of life. It was the Belgians
who first brought home to the belligerents the prominent part that
aircraft were destined to play in war, and the military possibilities of
the aeroplane. True, the Belgians had a very small aerial navy, but
it was put to work without delay and accomplished magnificent results,
ascertaining the German positions and dispositions with unerring
accuracy and incredible ease, and thus enabling the commander of the
Belgian Army to dispose his relatively tiny force to the best advantage,
and to offer the most effective resistance.

Great Britain's aerial navy, while likewise some what small, was also
ready for instant service. The British Expeditionary force was supported
by a very efficient aerial fleet, the majority of the vessels forming
which flew across the Channel at high speed to the British headquarters
in France so as to be available directly military preparations were
begun, and the value of this support proved to be inestimable, since it
speedily demoralised the numerically superior enemy.

France, like Germany, was somewhat dilatory, but this was attributable
rather to the time occupied in the mobilisation of the Fourth Arm than
to lack of energy. There were a round 1,500 aeroplanes ostensibly
ready for service, in addition to some 26 dirigibles. But the fleet
was somewhat scattered, while many of the craft were not immediately
available, being in the shops or in dock for repairs and overhaul.
During the period of mobilisation the so-called standing military force
was augmented by about 500 machines which were acquired from private
owners. The aeroplane factories were also, overhauled and re-organised
so as to be in a position to remedy the inevitable wastage, but these
organisation efforts were somewhat handicapped by the shortage of labour
ari