So far as the public is concerned—and the public really should go and see it for itself—tbe work of the day in the air port of london begins with the departure of the Continental aeroplanes at noon. Some time before that hour from four to seven machines may be seen ranged along close to the small public enclosure (which is free), and the visitor can see the mails and passengers taken aboard and the British, French, Belgian, and Dutch machines start on their flights.
The aerodrome is at Waddoo. The nearest stations are West Croydon and Waddon. From the for era tramway runs in about six minutes through picturesque Old Croydon, past the vast and apparently decaying buildings and piles of stores of the A posal Ca. ing." where gaps in the hedges hav been made so that aeroplanes ca pass from the sheds to the starting-point on the other side of the road. A little farther on are the offices namely, the Message Compagnie Express Aériens, Instone Air Line. Kuta. {the Dutch service), Syndicate National pour Etude des Transports Aériens (the Belgian Handley Page Transport, and. the offices of the Civil Aviation Depart-mani of the Air Mia You enter a gate on the left by a huge sign '"Tondon, Terminal Aero The Air Ministry section comprises meteorological and inspectors' offices: and there is also the all-important office of H. M. Customs. The public notices are dis played in various languages; but the predominant language spoken in and about the aerodrome is French, for the bulk of the traffic is in the hands of French and Belgian companies.
VaRieriks OF interesting variety of machines may be seen, ranging in size from the tiny Spad to the two-engined Vickers "Vimy and Far-man "Goliath"; and in types that present bold contrasts. Thus there ingle-engine D.H.18. a true real air vehicle, and the} curious Pokker monoplane, its thick wings above the passengers' cabin. The two-engine machines are very different in character. The "Goliath" has its engines comparatively low down, and the windowed cabin projects far forward, vying in its reflected brightness with the Crystal Palace visible on its hill some miles away to the left. The Vickers aod the Handley Page have their Rous-Rogce engines between the planes. A large Spad, a Bréguet, and a D.H.9 are also in service.
Towards noon there is much rua-ning to and fro of messengers carrying buff and white forms (doubtless
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.