GERMANY'S AERIAL FLEET.

Mataura Ensign, 24 May 1909, Page 4

GERMANY'S AERIAL FLEET.

WHAT THE FI'TUUE HOLDS. In 1812 Germany (writes ihe London 'Times' aeronautical correspondent) will have at least 21 mammoth Zeppelin -Inps, each capable of oversea excursions, and probably speedier than any naval vessel! 11l the present year she will have four Zeppelins, and the magnificent lactory at Fricdriclihlialcn. endowed with over MOO.OOO by the Herman nation, will be able to turn out at least, eight vessels a y<|ar alter this autumn. Thus by 1.512 Germany call have 24 Zeppelins, and her other military dirigibles will number at least a dozen. Our rate ol product iou is one vessel per annum, ami by 1912 we may have at most live small-sized. slow, nonrigid airships, which, as com;iared with the Zeppelins, will be as antiquated cruisers to the Dreadnoughts. We have no up-to-date facilities lor building large dirigibles even of the non-rigid type; and ah for tho laster rigid craft of tho Zeppelin type, we have absolutely no experience or resources, either of the Gnvcrnmciil or private, which would enable us to lay down such ships .successfully. -liritish experts have sneered ai the Zeppelin, ami they have never built a ship of this kind, though it is now established to lie the last est. and most powerful, and the only craft which can attempt long voyages oversea. Our licet of live ships in 1012, i! built according to the present intimates, will be litted only for overland work, and will bo quite unable to cope Willi the larger and swifter German vessels, which can mount better guns and carry more explosives. MKNACK TO THK NAVY. A Zeppelin of tile present day type could reach this country in ten hours and do enormous damage in a In >e, space of time. Our experts lane ao adequate idea of the improvements which can be cllectid in tlie Zeppehns in the next year or two. Twenty-lour vessels of a va.stlv improved type might in 1!)I'J put ten or more ol our twenty Dreadnoughts out ol action and damage our naval base seriously; while Germany would still have .a well-tried second aerial licet ol twelve dirigibles to ! carry out. further operations. 1 sav ! nothing ol the moral elfeei ol this stnjideii attack, or ol the panic which would 'be created by a .single German ship 'making a demonstration over Umiion. 'The majority of peonle in this country laugh at the whole idea, and even aeronautical writers pooh-pooh the possibility ol attack by dirigibles: and yet the records made by (he Zeppelin in P'oß show that a ship of this type has fiavelled over Will miles, and later i"c,ids show its speed to be up to :to miles an hour, with power to ascend lo an ailitude ot over a mile. Ii can carry at least, a 101 10l explosives. I sllflieielll supplies lor a run ol over miles The bee-line distance between I lie 111" 1 ! colliinguoiis parts ol Kngland and Cern.v is under 2')o miles. Vet the whole notion of aerial attack bv vessels ol ihe Zeppelin type is ridiculed in this country. At least three highly-equipped lactones in Germany are now making dirigibles. and Count Zeppelin alone ha ■ CWO.OOII for the work. Are we wi-" to sliul our eyes lo I his steady, scientific process of skilled and serious men. and to trust to our theorists when the.-, assert that Zeppelin and Ins compatriots are foolishv .striving alter the impossible I-