LURKING NATIONS BY AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1919, Page 8

LURKING NATIONS BY AIR.

THRESHOLD OF NEW ERA. BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS. London, Nov. 8. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to-day presented an aeroplane to South Africa. Mr. Blankenberg, Acting High Commissioner, who returned thanks, after remarking that, the gift embodied the spirit of goodwill of the people of England to the people of South Africa, referred to the steps at present being tal.en to map out a transcontinental route from Knghtnd ta Capetown. He declared that an All-route in Africa was now. for the first time, possible, as the tSritish Empire included the whole of Eastern Africa. This fact made a transcontinental air route of the utmost importance to the Empire as a whole. Major -General Sir Frederick Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation, said that General Smuts had not exaggerated when, two and a-half years ago, he predicted that the aeroplane would prove one of the most potent instruments of peace, and would open up new vistas in the progress of the human race. "I believe." proceeded General Sykes, "that we are standing on the threshold of a new era, and its spirit cannot he better symbolised than by the advance of aviation. "Aviation is the antithesis of Chauvinism. Much of the mutual antagonism between different races has been due to lack of easy communication, and consequent misunderstanding. Cables and wireless have only partially broker down the walls between nations. Aviation will do more, for it will afford swift opportunities for intercourse between living personalities. When the civilised world is intersected hy a system of air routes nations will learn that it will be as ahsurd to declare war on one another as it would be for Birmingham -to declare war on Crewe."