AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 930, 31 January 1924, Page 5

AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION.

GREAT BRITAIN’S PLANS. LONDON, Jan. 29. Il is understood that BrigadierGeneral Thomson, the Air Minister, is already considering an airship scheme. Commander Burney is confident regarding the outcome and believes Parlia 7 meat will discuss it in February. If the scheme is ratified, the re-opening of ihe Cardington works at Bedford will follow. It was in these works tha, the largest war-time airships were built. The first new craft will be ready in 18 months. The new type will be of girderless steel strips, the strengthening framework providing a stre nger and more rigid hull than that of "die Zeppelin. Commander Burney appeals to Australia and New Zealand to insist that Bri ain should retain Wrangel Island as i strategic base for an alternative Arc tic route to the antipodes, via the Pacific, possibly including Hong Kong and Singapore. It is pointed out that a C anadian base is not advisable owing to ihe difficulty of crossing the Rockies. These plans really place Britain in a i re-eminent position in airship construction, and are only waiting for the word “go.” Already Britain has received business inquiries from three foreign countries.—A. and N.Z. cable.