Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-27
AIRSHlP FLEET.
Formation of One Effected by French
\ Government.

Formation of One Effected by French
Government.
The question Of the use Of airships
is one which is very active In Europe
at present, especially in France, Ger
many and Italy. Upon the state OF at
fairs in France an important piece OF
news appeared not long since, and
while It must be taken with some re-
serve It is nevertheless worthy OF
mention. Although the military au-
thorities decline to give any informa-
ton on the subject It has leaked out
that the preparations for the new fleet
of airships which is to be used by the
army are being carried forward with
all possible diligence, and there are no
less than five airships to be construct
ed Of the same type as the Patrie.
These will be turned over to the gov
ernment in March, 1908. 1t appears
that three Of the new airships will be
constructed by Messrs. Labaudy at
their quarters at Moisson, near Paris,
while the other two are to be built at
the government aerostatic establish
ment at Chalais- Meudon, near the
city. It is the intention to provide a
large fleet of airships in the future. az
the war department is now quite con-
vinced Of their great value In military
manoeuvres for various purposes.
Such airships will be constructed In
series of fives, and the above pro-
gramme relates to the first five Of the
fleet, exclusive of the three Labaudy
airships which are already built, In
cluding the Patrie. While the general
type will remain the same, the object
is to make improvements In detail In
each of the series Of five airships as
they are constructed. AS to the first
five airships Of the fleet they Will be
distributed among the principal forti-
fed posts In the centre and eastern
frontier regions. Among these will be
the forts of Belfort, Verdun, Toul Be-
sancon and the camp at Chalons. The
work of erecting the sheds which are
to house them has already commenc-
ed. For some time past the war de-
partment has been paying special at
tention to the subject Of training the
aerostatic corps so that 1t will be able
to handle the airships with certainty.
For this purpose one Of the airships
is stationed permanently at the Cha
lais-Meudon establishment and the
drills are constantly being carried out.
It appears that the new aerostatic
corps is to be composed Of no less
than forty-eight officers Of the mill
tary engineer corps and ninety-two
regular army officers, who are chosen
for their competence in aerial naviga-
ton work and their experience In me-
chanical engineering. Not long since
the airship Patrie made a series OF
flights from Meudon to Paris and re-
turn, with the object Of drilling the
crews in actual flight, which is right
ly estimated as one Of the most i'm
portant parts Of the work. One of
these, on the Sth Of July, was the
fourth flight which the Patrie MADE
during the season. Starting at 7.bO
o'clock a. M, 1t made some evolutions
about the Chalais grounds, then start
ed for Paris, mounted by Commandant
Bouttiaux, Capt. Voyes and other Of
ficers Of the aeronautic corps. After
passing over the suburbs and entering
Paris II made several circuits above
quarters at 80 The total distance,
thirty-four miles, was covered In
the city and then came back to It's
hour and 20 minutes at the rate OF
twenty-five miles an hour. and this Is
a remarkable result, seeing that the
airship had to struggle against a west
wind blowing at a considerable speed.
Another flight was made over the city
on July IL, including a wide circuit
through the region, lasting for nearly
two hours. 1t was quite successful.
and the same speed was made. The
landing can be carried out with ease.
in spite of the fact that the station at
Meudon Is quite surrounded by woods,
and the manoeuvre was made with
great precision, entirely by the use or
the movable steering planes. Capt.
Voyes and five others formed the
crew.-Scientific American.
tB Too many Of us consider an ex-