wireless to any air-stations in China. This particularly applies to storm and typhoon warnings, and I think it is safe to say that at any time we have at least 48 hours’ notice of the approach of the typhoon. I trust you will excuse the way this letter is written, but my Chinese stenographer has his own views on how English should be written. 11 JUNE 1920 The training of Chinese aviation pilots to handle the half dozen Handley Page aeroplanes bought by the Ministry of Communications for commercial purposes has been in progress for more than a month and the anticipations of their instructors have been in large measure realised. Not unnaturally a commencement was made with men who have already flown; pilots who have been accustomed to flying over the city in the frail little Cauldrons which were bought by the Chinese Government before the war, and as may be expected, the difficulty with them is to make them unlearn some of the science and knowledge which they applied to a small machine. It is difficult to impress upon them that they cannot handle a huge Handley Page in the same manner as their Cauldrons. Their courage is unquestioned. Even British fliers admire the intrepidity of the pilots who handle these small machines, and more than one has been heard to declare that he would not take £1,000 to go up in one of them. (North China Daily News) 12 JUNE 1920 An agreement between the Ministry of Navy and the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of New York, for the supply of $2,500,000 worth of hydroplanes and for an additional advance of an equal sum to make possible the foundation of an aviation department for the Ministry of Navy is now under negotiations. The report that it has been concluded is rather premature. The question whether the hydroplanes to be purchased will be placed under the control of the Chief of the Chinese Government Aeronautic Department has not yet been settled. 12 JUNE 1920 C.E.W. Ricou of the Macao Aerial Transportation Company is now making daily trips to Hongkong from Macao. On May 27th he succeeded in making a trip in one of his seaplanes in 17 minutes. (Millard’s Review)
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