DECEMBER 1919 Lieutenant Bianchetti, an officer of the Italian Air Forces, arrived in Canton as an advance guard of a number of fellow officers who are reported to be on their way to China with their machines. Their proposed plans are to conduct an air service on the Coast from Canton and Hongkong to Shanghai. Lieutenant Bianchetti is understood to have negotiated with the local Government for the grant of an area for the formation of an aerodrome. The most suitable sites would be the East Parade Ground or some little cultivated areas near the foot hills of the White Cloud Mountain. These however were refused on the ground that they were too near the White Cloud Mountain fortifications and Shaho barracks, and instead he was offered a large field, until recently under paddy, some eight miles down river from Canton. In many respects it is quite suitable as an aerodrome, and a pagoda standing near gives its position. It has however one serious defect which makes it useless for a part of the year. It lies along the river bank and is below the normal high water level, so that after heavy rain or in the event of a flood occurring it would be flooded to a considerable depth. At Macao Mr. C.E. Ricou, a French citizen and Manager of the Macao Electric Light Company, has formed a company for the purpose of conducting a seaplane service to Hongkong and Canton from Macao, and perhaps ultimately to Shanghai and Indo-China. The Company has the support of the Governor of Macao who has granted it every possible facility. Mr. Ricou hopes to obtain equally wholehearted support from the Governments of Hongkong and Canton. As regards the former’s policy nothing is known. The Canton Authorities on being approached semi-officially stated that “the matter was one of moment which must be discussed slowly, and that in any case the disturbed state of affairs in military circles precluded permission being given to the institution of air services to Canton at the present time.” It is possible however that were the matter taken up strongly some concession would be made. At present Mr. Ricou has only one Curtiss seaplane with which he has made a few flights, but the following machines are expected shortly: 5 Curtiss H.16 Flying Boats; 2 Curtiss HS.2 Flying Boats with wireless equipment; 3 Aeromarine 39 S. pontoon aeroplanes and one Boeing Seaplane together with a large supply of spare parts. They are being shipped by the Guy T. Slaughter Company of San Francisco who have selected pilots. (22/4/20. These machines have now arrived, some in a damaged condition.) The staff in Macao at present consists of Mr. L.A. Scotchmer, an engineering superintendent of the Curtiss Factory; five pilots and five skilled mechanics. Mr. Ricou himself served in the French aviation corps during the war. It was recently stated in the local press that there were some 20 Chinese aviators and mechanics in Canton but that they had all sought employment in local engineering works. The engines of one or two old aeroplanes imported by Tom Gunn some time ago are stated to have been put into certain fast motorboats owned by the Treasurer and others.
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