GERMAN AERONAUTICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13942, 30 June 1909, Page 7

GERMAN AERONAUTICS.

AERIAL INVASION IMPOSSIBLE

(Bv Wolfgang F. Ewald, in the liOiulon "Clarion.')

There has been much talk recently about aerial fleets and the possibility of an invasion of airships in England. Not only in England, but also in Germain-, we have heard people of doubtful competence make exceedingly startling statements about aerial warfare. These people may be gifted with lively imaginations. They are certainly not hampered by facts. 1 have been occupied with aeronautical experiments for several years, and have coine into contact with some ot our leading men in this particular branch of science. I will try to draw from my experience a picture of the actual state of aeronautics, and deduce some evident conclusions. Ballooning has developed into a flourishing sport in Germany, partly because our "country is situated very favourably in the middle of the C'<».tinent. and also because solitary pleasures of this kind suit the (..eiman character. especially if then: be a scientific side to them. Germanv leads the world's aeronautics bv consuming 48,000 cubic metres of gas for sporting and military balloons. France follows suit with 42,00') cubic metres, while other countries remain far in the background. A Mijghi balloon contains from SOU up to 'Am.) or more cubic metres of gas. >»<»i»<*rotis clubs have been founded in all the principal cities of the German Empire* and the movement is increasing fasti A large industry has grown up, a'ndMnearlv monopolises the worlds maAts for gas-bags and rubberised limited httmg power rc its dependence the tt<^'» reliable With an

airship you can drive from Berlin to Constintinople in twenty hours and less under favourahlo conditions, and in two days or more against a strong wind. Several ••ompanies have been formed in Germany and the [Tufted States for passenger traffic by airships; but the American company is quite fantastical, as there is no airships in America up to now carrying more than three or four people, and even the large, r ast Zeppelin airship is not yet reliable enough for regular work.

1 The aeroplane which, as I shall explain later, is a very different thing from the airship, may hecome. an automobide of the air very soon. It will be much cheaper and faster than its brother on the solid-'ground, not half so dependent on favourable winds as the balloon, and easily stored away ■n any garage. To those looking forward to a new peaceful development of technics, the aeroplane gives greater hopes than the giant airship.

Now as to the military uses of the airship. At present Germany possesses three Parseval, two Gross three JSeppelLn, one Siemens-Sehue-bert, and one Rch-itte airship ready or undor construction. The five rigid r.nd iulf-rigid airsnips will serve as fortress balloons for purposes of siege and for reconnoitring fixed positions of the enemy, and the large rigid airships are to make swift raids across the enemy's country, to reconnoitre the whole of his military preparations, and eventually to destroy his airships by musketry fire, overtaking them Through their superior speed. Only France lias mmii- >A_;t'ii,ni-,iis on. a similar scale. Hut v ranee did not make any progr. ~s ia.-.t \t-ar,' as the aeroplane, has aosorb.d all interest. 'JL'li_-re s -....: aemi-ngiu airship, the witn nonrigid ones, > hie rails. OlelllelltJBayard, and \me <ie J3orueuux. JJut they have- neitner ui.i..ni<-u me speed nor the time records nl Hie German dirigibles. A large semi-rigid airship is to be built next summer, Rigid airships are not planned. On the other hand, aeroplane experiments are in a far better condition than in Germany. But the aeroplane, with its difficulty of ascending and descending at an unprepared spot,' and its short flights is not serviceable for purposes of war. No other countries have any aerial fleet worth mentioning. Italy has a good type of small army dirigible of the non-rigid type, and England, America, Russia, and Spain have a dirigible each, but the results have not been very favourable. These facts show that up to now Germany js in the lead as concerns airships for military purposes. Is it possible for Germany to use this advantage in a. way to make her aerial, fleet an imminent danger, to other countries.

Is bombardment or invasion by airships possible.—To this question there is only one answer: For many years to come such a thing is not to be expected ; probably the dirigible lighter than air will never be able to perform such sensational feats. The mere fact that an airship of the size of a modern ocean liner (and that is probably the size limit, as the constructive material gets unproportionately heavy for larger dimensions) would not carry more than about sixty people, or a proportionate weight of explosives, shows the futliity of such expectations. It would never be possible to construct a fleet of airships necessary to invade even a small country without the world knowing it: for the preparations would be- simply gigantic. The sheds necessary for the construction would cover miles of country. Hydrogen is the lightest element existing. There is no hope of finding a lighter one. Even extremely licht motors and an ideal wooden scaffolding will not change these figures. Besides, an army of • the required size would not find the necessary ammunition, find it would not ho possible to furnish any, as it is too heavy. Artillery could not be transported because (if this lack of ammunition and reserve material. Finally, airships will be an easy prey to the enemy's artillery, as soon as they have learnt to shoot at high objects and have the necessary guns, which will be as soon as airships become common. The actual service of the airship is reconnitring. And if it can do that and throw explosives occasionally, it is useful enough for war purposes. The service a few airships, equipped with wireless telegraphy, could do to an army or navy by reconnitring the enemy's forces, and sending messages while going, is quite inestimable. They could even do much harm in the way of torpedo boats by turning up suddenly, throwing some explosives, and making off before the enemy had time to get their guns into position. Or course, one would have to expect losses similar to those usual with torpedo boats, but as large airships can be built for £-5000 to £IO,OOO, one could sacrifice many to attain results

Anyway, they can neither carry many people nor much ammunition. That must always be kept in mind, and wiil serve to convey a right picture of the possibilities. At present our airships could not fulfil even these tasks. Their speed is 'not sufficient to keep the air in every gale. Their motors are not reliable enough for long journeys, and they have no contrivances equal -;o task of making up for or reducing the loss of gas. They cannot- go high enough to he out" of range for fear of losing too much gas. and they suffer severely ft cm sunshine.

Their inefficiencies will probably be reduced during .'he next few years. AVe are sure to have fast airships, flying through any weather with comparative security, carrying a small crew, sufficient to form two watches for navigating, engineering, gunnery, and signalling, able to remain in the air several days, and to throw a few explosives. The aeroplane will perhaps bring new possibilities, but I myself, although working in that direction, do not think it possible In-

vasions or prolonged bombardments by airships are, for the time being, absolutely out of the question.