Overview

This study analyzes the extent to which the Smuts Report accurately assessed the capabilities, limitations, and emerging potential of British airpower in 1917. The primary sources for this thesis include the Smuts Report itself, memoirs of principal actors, and newspaper articles from The Times (London). Secondary sources are drawn from the wealth of literature on the strategic context of the Great War; the war's ground and air operations, particularly on the Western Front; biographies of the principal actors; and several analyses of the nature of airpower, which include scholarly critiques of the evolution of the idea and doctrine of strategic bombing. The Great War rapidly turned from one of maneuver to one of stalemate. As the generals adopted a strategy of attrition, politicians began to search for alternative solutions to the slaughter. Airpower appeared to offer such an alternative. General Jan Christiaan Smuts' intellect and breadth of vision allowed him to grasp the potential for strategic airpower. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

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