REVIVAL OF AIRSHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 26, 31 January 1924, Page 5

REVIVAL OF AIRSHIPS

MINISTER CONSIDERING SCHEME.

(SIDNEI SUS CABLB.)

LONDON, 2Sth January. It is understood that Brigadier-Gen-eral A. G. Thompson, Air Minister,-al-ready is considering the airship- scheme. t>ir Cecil Burn<3y is confident regarding the outcome. It is believed that Parliament will discuss it in February. •If th» scheme is ratified the reoperiin" of Cardmgton Works, Bedford, will fof low. It was in these works that the largest wartime airships were built. The first new craft will ba ready in eighteen months. The new type will be girdless, with steel strips strengthening the framework, and providing a stronger and more rigid hull than the Zeppelin.

Sir Cecil Burney appeals to Australia and New Zealand to insist that Britain retain Wrangel Island as a strategic base for an alternative Arctic route to the Antipodes, via the Pacific, and possibly including Hongkong and Singapore , It is pointed out that a , Canadian base is not advisable, owing to the difficulty of crossing the Rockies Plans are ready to place Britain in a pre-eminent position in airship construe tion, and are only waiting the word so Already there have been received busil ness inquiries- from three foreign couu-