yet, no rule-of-thumb method of arriving at a definite and correct allotment of aircraft to an army of given strength. The only safe line on which to proceed is to consider, first, what are the services which the aircraft are to be required to perform? Second, how much of our available resources are we justified in devoting to these services? The answer to the first question shows a list which increases with each successive month of war. The mere propounding of the second will inevitably raise a controversy of which the only possible settlement will be a compromise. The final decision, however, ought to be based on relative value, not on relative numbers.
On the merits of these and other questions raised by Mr. Lanchester, the reader must be the judge. I hope that there may be many readers, and that they will give consideration to their judgments, for, whether they agree or not with the author, they will find here much that is worthy of study and reflection.
- ↑ Lieutenant General Sir David Henderson, KCB, KCVO, DSO (1862–1921) was the senior leader of British military aviation during the First World War, (Wikisource contributor note)
