We are very glad to record two examples of admirable
voluntary enterprise with the object of making good the admitted arrears of our national defence in aerial navigation. The Morning Post has opened a subscription for offering an airship to the nation, and Mr. Haldane has announced that the War Offioe will gratefully accept it. Meanwhile the Parlia- mentary Aerial Defence Committee have published some feet* which show that, though our arrears may be serious, they are not quite so bad as the Morning Post supposed. The Com- mittee had, in fact, already arranged with M. Clement to send over from Paris on approval the largest airship yet built. M. Clement could not undertake to allow this vessel to stay long enough in England for a satisfactory test, as there is no garage for housing it. Here was the opportunity for another act of voluntary enterprise, and the Daily Mail stepped in with an offer to build a garage at the cost of £5,000. This offer has been gladly accepted by the Parlia- mentary Committee. We congratulate the two newspapers on their public spirit.
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