* * * * Air Rivals The results of the
international air race from France to Damascus and back represent a notable triumph for Italy, which makes such contests a matter of national prestige. Her airmen, whose machines gained all the first three places, had made their success as sure as possible by sending in no fewer than eight entries out of a total field of 13 and by setting up a masterly organisation reminiscent of General Balbo's great formation flight across the Atlantic. All their eight pilots were under the wireless-transmitted orders of a single commander. But it is interesting to note that the three leading planes had British engines built by an Italian firm under British licence. The failure of the four French entrants is being used in some quarters as a stick with which to beat M. Cot, the Air Minister, for not arranging a stronger French entry. The same argument might also apply to our own Air Ministry, which always appears singularly uninterested in these international contests, though the solitary British competitor did well to finish fourth. However that may be, the continued success of the Transatlantic flying-boats is evidence that here at least we can prove ourselves as efficient as any country, in far-reaching organisation as well as in actual results. On Saturday the Caledonia made the west-to-east crossing in if hours, thus creating a record for commercial aircraft, and there seems no reason why a regular Anglo-American summer service should not be established next year. Here there is no rivalry, only co-operation.
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