GERMANY'S AIR FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15686, 13 August 1914, Page 5

GERMANY'S AIR FLEET.

MANY BALLOON SHEDS.

EXPLOSIVES FROM ALOFT.

What may bo the limitations of air craft in war-time is still a matter of conjecture. the possibility of dropping explosives in place of firing them from cannon would certainly leave positions open to attack that would bo safe from ordinary bombardment ; but against this it must be remembered that both the aeroplane and the dirigible balloon a» extremely vulnerable. Much has been written about the. invisibility of aeroplanes when the wings areconstructed /of some .semi-transparent material, and when the machines are flying at a considerable height, say, 5000 ft and over. At that height, however, shrapnel would bring them down sooner or later, even though they might provo almost impossible marks for single projectiles. The dirigibles depend for their buoyancy on hydrogen. . They would offer a larger mark, and with their gas bags filled with a highly inflammable gas they dare not tako the chances of being struck that aeroplanes might risk in extreme circumstances.

It is true that they could carry a larger supply of explosives, • but if they kept absolutely out of range they would not bo able to drop bombs effectively, for often, they would have a blanket of cloud between thorn and their objective.

Germany has 14 airships, including seven Zeppelin "destroyers." The latter carry ii tons of projectiles, Between Berlin and the frontier there are 30 balloon sheds. These sheds pivot, so that whatever the direction of the wind may be the balloons can enter them safely. Special railway cars, loaded with bottles of compressed hydrogen, aro always kept in readiness.

For absolute accuracy no published figures are reliable but as regards air craft it is certain that Germany takes a high placo amongst the nations. With tho same reservations, it is probable that she is poorly off so far as the submarine, tho other new arm of offence and defence, is concerned.