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is all within a flying time of not over six hours. An air force stationed in the valley of the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers with properly organized airways can be thrown in any direction indicated above in one-tenth of the time that any other force could be, can supply itself through the air, can prevent ingress or egress to the Suez Canal, and probably into India from the north, by any large forces. Airplanes are being developed to act as a supply train for the air forces on duty in Mesopotamia for the carrying of both personnel and materiel. These are not all completed, but are in course of construction and will soon be put in service.

The government of Mesopotamia has been turned over to the air force, and Air Marshal Salmond has been designated as commanding officer of this area. He has entire charge in the same way that an army or navy officer might, and any details from the army necessary for special work, for police purposes, or local ground defense will report to the air force for duty. It will therefore be seen that the definite responsibility assigned to the air force is the holding and policing of the Mesopotamia area,-the military keystone of the British Empire.

In England itself, the air force is now under the command of Air Marshal Higgins. It consists of twelve squadrons less

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