The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
GE ERMANY MAKES
 FIGHT FOR LEAD Would Excel In Aerial Navi-
 gation BUILDS MANY AlRSHIPS Enough Will Be Constructed to Place One at Every Fort and
 Army Station in the
 Country.
By MALCOLM CLARKE.

Berlin, May l.-Germany is Sparfng no effort to keep the lead in the realm of aerial navigation I am enabled to state the plans for her aerial fleet include the construction of enough ves- ses of the Zeppelin, Gross or Parseval type to permit of the stationing of at least one in every fort of the country, including those on the land frontiers as well as on the coast
 In addition, vessels will be built for service with each of the four field armies which would be organized in case of war. The recent achievements of the Zeppelin l have convinced the German military authorities of the incalculable value of airships for tactical purposes. The Zeppelin has demonstrated that It could in 12-hour trip cover the entire length of the French frontier. from Meurnausen, in Alsace, via Belfort, to Treves, and could give in time of war a strategic deployment.
 Although German experts profess to think the chief value of military airships is for reconnaissance, the army author tiles are experimenting with a view to using aerial cruisers as offensive weapons.
 Three distinct types of shells enter into consideration. The first is an explosive shell for use against buildings. war materials, and dockyards. The sec ond is a burning shell for setting fire to buildings, airships. balloons. or flying ma chimes. The third is a shell emitting in- tolerable odors for use against troops in ,Ia4t of towns.
 It Is declared that the Zeppelin can without difficulty carry as many explo- sive shells or aerial torpedoes'' as a tor pedo boat. These vary in size from three to six inches, and are thus no larger than small-calibre land artillery amuni- ton.
 | For operations against small bodies Of troops or individuals hand genades will be employed. The burning shells weigh only three to seven ounces.
 Exhaustive trials have been made both with rifles field guns and machine, guns for use against aerial craft, but 1t is the general Conclusion that airships will be exceedingly difficult to hit. So far no practical experiments against airshfps have been possible and the authorities are seriously considering the advisability of constructing dummy airships for next falls Kaiser manoeuvres in order to test thoroughly the capacity of the Krupp and Earhardt airship destroyers.
 So far experts have found that dirigi- bles can rise easily beyond the range of vertical artillery fire.
 It is announced tonight that several wealthy residents of Berlin have ordered an >arship of the Parseval type. to be used for a pleasure trip. This vessel will be the first aerial pleasure yacht built. The airship will be completed inside of three months, and according to the con tract will be delivered before the end Of July
 Great interest is being taken In mili- tary circles In new type of airship in- vented by Herr Veeh of Elberfield. The Kaiser has given orders for the complete plans to be laid before him, and several experts have been delegated by the min ister of war to investigate the possibili- ties of the new invention.
 It appears that the attempts undertaken by Zeppelin I to sail "A hours without landing are impossible owing to the heavy loss of gas from the balloon.
 A telegram from Moscow states that the mystery of crime committed on Au- gust 20, 1907, under singular circumstan- ces has just been solved.
 The widow of a wealthy privy coun- cllor was found murdered near her villa at Bronileck Beside her lay Mime. Ser insky his sister-in-law. As soon as the latter regained consciousness she related that she and Maria Ruztzvetaeff on enter ing the villa were attacked by tall dark man. The murderer stabbed the widow several times and Mme Serinsky fainted away.
 This declaration was regarded with suspicion as the victims money and
 
 kept on Mme. Serinsky, concerning whom some extraordinary facts were discovered.
 Mime. Serinsky had engaged young man to come from Tomsk to be the tutor of her children She became the mistress of the tutor, who in time pestered her for money The tutor disappeared after the crime, but at intervals sent mes- senger to Mme Serinsky with letters de- manding money. ln one Of these letters which was discovered he threatened Mme Serinsky that if she, did not satisfy his demand he would tell the poice all about the murder.
 Mime. Serinsky now confessed that the tutor committed the murder at her instigation. She was the principal heir ess of the widows estate and promised a share to the tutor.
 Mime. Serinsky was arrested as was the messenger who acted as intermedi- ary between her and the tutor. The latter has not been found but 1t has been established that he is criminal who was sentenced to penal servitude for life and had escaped.
 The new observatory at Treptow, lust outside the city, was opened with and many leading men of art and science all due ceremony, the burgomasters being present
 It is an imposing building, and pos sesses the most gigantic telescope in Germany. There is accommodation for every kind of experiments and library of over 10000 volumes has been added to the handsome reading room.
 The building of the observatory has taken unusually long on account of lack of funds and the joy or the as- tronomers of Berlin is now proportion ately great.
 The Kaiser, who has shown much personal interest in the building, has conferred a distinguished order upon pr. Archenhold, the director.