Zeppelin's Triumph.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14042, 28 October 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

Zeppelin's Triumph.

OKEAT WELCOME AT BEHLIX. Count Zeppelin achieved his greatest aerial triumpn when he kept his promise to the Kaiser to travel from Kriedriehstein to the capital in his newest dirigible, the route taken being about 500 miles. The Emperor and the. rest of the Royal Family were present to welcome the aged aeronaut, and when lie descended to the ground his Majesty ran to be the first to greet him. and kissed him on both cheeks. Three million inhabitants of Berlin and the provinces, reinforced by thousands of visitors, prepared to welcome the national hero. Vast multitudes proceeded to the Tempelhofer Plain in the south of Berlin. Carriages, motorcars, cabs, brakes, conveyances of all kinds followed one another in endless procession, filled with excited spectators carrying field glasses, telescopes, and cameras. Tens of thousands marched on foot, carrying provisions for a long wait. The entire capital was decorated with flags and gaily-coloured hunting in every street and square. • Every park and every open space was thronged with vast crowds gazing upwards at the aerial monster. Every housetop, every church tower, every balcony was black ■with human beings. Many thousands risked life in climbing to dizzy heights on lofty chimneys and sloping roofs to get the best possible view of the approaching airship. Traffic had to be suspended, in many streets, tramcars standing still all along the lines, unable to move owing to the crowds. They were turned into grand stands by the passengers. Trees in parks were occupied as vantage outlooks by enterprising climbers of all ages. The Tiergarten Park, in the centre of the citv. covering seven hundred acres, was filled with a dense human throng. Four hundred thousand school-children, each of whom had been presented by the municipal authorities with a series of pictorial cards explaining the progress of aerial navigation during the last half-century, had been marshalled before their schools, and were conducted in military order by their teachers. Enthusiastic "hochs" from hundreds of thousands of German throats greeted Zeppelin as lie flew from the southwestern part of the capital at a lowaltitude, plainly visible 'to the multitudes. At first sight the airship resembled a great cigar floating through the air. Seen nearer at hand and in some lights she resembled an enormous fish gliding hither and thither with the heln of protruding fins. At other times again she looked like some huge projectile which might have been fired from some Martian gun. For the edification of the watching multitude Count Zeppelin manoeuvred above Berlin, described circles and figures, steered backward and forwards, upwards and downwards, exhibiting the perfect sailing qualities of his vessel. When, shortly after twelve o'clock, he approached the Tempelhofer Feld, one million people were awaiting him there. The vast crowd cheered in unison. Tho mighty roar reached Zeppelin's ears, and thousands of toy airships, bearing the inscription "Welcome Zeppelin," were released, floating upwards towards the airship. After performing many evolutions immediately above the Tempelhofer Plain the airship sailed across the citv. and finally, after giving .every inhabitant of the metropolis the opnortunitv of seeing the marvellous capabilities of his invention, Count Zepnelin steered for his landing place at Tegel, where the Kaiser and the imperial court had proceeded by motor car.