Perhaps the greatest factor which is needed to further the development of the aeroplane today is the thorough appreciation by the National Government of the benefits which the aeroplane may bring to its various departments besides the military and postal service. When railroads first became practical the government gave millions of dollars besides large grants of land to enable them to extend and develop to a successful state. Steamship building was helped in the same way both by government aid and by the building of warships and transports. The French Government continues to lead the world in its encouragement of aviation. During the month of December, 1911, according to most reliable statistics, the War Department ordered no less than four hundred new aeroplanes, divided between a dozen or more types, and asked the government to appropriate the sum of $4,400,000 for aeronautics. Italy, next to France, is the most active European government in aviation, the Italian War Department having ordered fifty French machines of various types, as well as twelve aeroplanes of a new type produced in Austria. The Turkish government has decided to establish schools for the "fourth arm" immediately, while Russia will also increase its aviation programme. The latest government to take up aviation is that of Australia, where an aviation school is about to open for the instruction of army officers. Germany is not as active in aviation as the other principal European governments, although it is difficult to say exactly what is being done by the Germans, as they purchase machines made in their own country only. A most interesting programme was arranged by the British military authorities for the trial of machines in competition in the summer of 1912, at Salisbury Plain, in order to determine the best types of military aeroplane. The winning types in this contest will receive large orders from the British government to supply the Army and Navy with aerial equipment. FIRST AVIATION REGIMENT (Newspaper Despatch) PARIS, Jan. 25, 1912. The first aviation regiment, 327 strong, was organised here to-day. A flag will be presented to the battalion later on.