The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
SEE BRITISH WAR BALLOON
Foreigners Invited to Inspect Secret
Airship for First Time.
Each Pledged Not 10 DivuIEe Details
OF It's COnstructiOn-POIicy of
Secretiveness Reversed.

London. June l3-The new army air
ship which has been built with such Sc
crecy in the war balloon factory at Alder
shot was inspected yesterday by a num-
Der Of distinguished foreign aeronauts
and members Of the British Aero Club.
Aparty Of eighty-two guests, represent
ing the chief aerial clubs OF the world,
who are now in London for the lnterna-
tional aeronautical congress, were invit-
ed, as special favor. by the war office.
Only certain portions OF the latest Brit
ish airship were shown 10 the visitors.
who represented France, Germany, Bel
gium. Switzerland, and America, as well
as England.
All the aerOnauts, however. were pledged
TO secrecy concerning the construction Of
the airship. for It was the first time a
party OF strangers had been permitted 10
enter the giant shed in which 1t has been
built
Sentries are on guard day and night
outside the airshlp shed. and no one un-
connected with the secret work Of con-
struction has hitherto been permitted to
approach within speaking distance.
/ The war Office guests left Waterloo in q
special train for Marlborough. where they
arrived about o'clock in the afternoon.
Ambulance wagons were waiting 20 drive
| the aeronauts 10 the balloon factory, as
the war Office had no other carriages
available
Distinguished balloonists crowded glee-
fully into Red Gross carts with their
British confreres. q
| Col. Templer, the late chief OF the bal
loon staff. with Col. Capper. the com
lmandant, received the guests and conduct
ed them over the closely guarded inclos-
ure and factories.
The party was first shown the latest
army field balloon. which was inflated
with hydrogen and made ready for an as
cent In the record time Of six minutes.
| The field balloon is constructed Of gold
beaters' skin, which, although most ex-
pecsive. retains the hydrogen and allows
the balloon 10 remain aloft, II necessary
for days.
The field balloon yesterday was captive
being held by wire rope within 300 feet
OF the earth. Several members Of the
party including two women, made as
cents and surveyed the country and the
camp through field glasses. Telephone
messages can be sent from the car. Of thC
balloon to the intelligence department be-
/ low.
| The visitors were next shown the ole
/ Null Secundus. the army airship which
circled ST. Paul's Cathedral last year and
was wrecked in the Crystal Palace
grounds. Only the envelope Of the Null
Secundus remains, for the war Office au-
thOrities have been experimenting witt
the old mechanism.
After leaving the shed the guests were
taken over the balloon factories and
shown the methods OF balloon cOnstruc-
tion and preparing the compressed hydro
gen for the rapid filling of field balloons
The chief incident Of the visit. however
was the inspection Of the secret airship
which Is lying in a great shed behind
| two iron doors. which form the entire
| end of the building When these are
thrown open the airship, which completely
fills the shed, IS ready for flight.
At present the new airship has not
been completely put together, for certain
patents and Improvements, which II /;
hoped will make the airship the best OF
its kind in the world, have not yet beer
fixed.