Russia wanted own air force according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag dated 15 February 1910

An item dated St. Petersburg 14 February reported that in the common meeting of the committee for strengthening the Russian navy via voluntary contributions was decided to use the surpluses of 900.000 rubles to spent immediately for founding an air force and to request the emperor for permission to collect for this purpose in whole Russia. The committee appointed a subcommittee for an air force with grand duke Alexander Michaelowitsje as chairman.(1)

Note

1. Vice-admiral (since 1909) Alexander Mihailovich (13 April 1866-26 February 1933), brother-in-law of the Russian emperor Nicholas II. He was involved in rebuilding the Russian navy in which he saw the battleships playing a major roll.