The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

 IS NOT REALIZED Zeppelin Has Not Achieved
 Supremacy in Air RUSSIA RETRENCHES Reduces Demands Made for Increase in the Navy-French Troops to
 Be Assembled Near Tours
 for Manuoevers
By FREDERICK WERNER

Berlin. May, 25.-(Speclal.)- )-only a few years have passed since the day when the Kaiser with his usual impetuousness pronounced old Count Zeppelin the great est man of the century. because he felt convinced that the inventor of the first d!rlgible airship had won for Germany the indisputable supremacy of the air. which forever must put an end to all French dreams of revenge That the I<aiser's dream has been no more last ing than dreams ordinarily are is ac- kpowledged in manifesto exhorting all classes of the population to contribute to National Flying Fund" which is print ed every day with great prominence in practically the entire German press.
 The first of the signatories to the open ing of the aviation exhibition announced that the inauguration of such fund was in contemplation. The chairman of the committee is Count Posadowsky, ex-mln- ister of the interior. whose character and attachments stand higher in the popular esteem than those of any other man in political life. Among the members of the committee are leaders in all walks of
 .ationai activity.
 The manifesto opens with the following words: With pride we Germans can
 name the man who first realized the long, l ing of centuries-Zeppelin. The tremen- | deus development which the navigation I of the air has experienced since the in- trceuction of flying machines compels us, however, to put teforward the most stren- uors efforts if we are not to be forced into the rear ranks by the self-sacrifice afd energy of other nations. If any where the cry must here always be, Ger mmany to the front. It is not vain ambi- tion which demands that from us It Is here a question of upholding our fame as the first masters of applied science. Of erecting values which shall assure to us Germans a place of honor in the history O. all times
 The only indication of the manner in which, the money collected is to be spent Is as follows: Above all, the national fund sal supply means for ceaseless progress towards the perfection of flying apparat- us and for the training of aviators, so ttat dangers may be diminished and per fC m ances enhanced. Moreover, with the hep of the national fund, a technique witch is ever opening up new fields of la bcr and industry shall be promoted. Nu- n,erous and extended competitions will stimulate the inventive spirit, courage and
  achievements from man and the machine Il short, the German flying machine. whether 1t circles vigilant in the air in tke hour of national danger. or In the pcaeeable competition of nations, speeds along as the latest means of modern communication. and as the winged her. ulc of the efficiency of the fatherlapd shall at any moment be prepared and able 1 to fulfill what the need of the hour re- cures from it."
 Of course, the real purpose of the appeal is Irinarily a military one, and the fund is merely an answer to that which tor SC mo time past has been In existence in France That is so we'll understood that it Las not been thought necessary even to allrde to 1t, except in the vague refer ence to the hour of national danger just GU oted Some considerable time ago the German Air Navy league attempted to siart a. fund, but its efforts met with very little encouragement Subsequent to the Initiation of the latest phase of the avia- ton movement in France. however, local siit scriptions were started in several towns In this country, with the object of presenting aeroplanes to the army. It WAS this stimulus which led to the issue O. Prince Henry's appeal, and 1t is hoped that the local subscriptions will not be amaIgamated with the national fund
 Among the places where contributions may be paid in are all the postoffices of Germany and the branches of the Imperial bank, so that the fund has distinctly an official character. The socalistic press has discovered that before the manifesto was sent out the editors of the chief monarchial papers were convened In secret meeting and their support enlisted for the movement No doubt they heard the magic formula, The Fatherland is i'm danger" with which wonders can be worked in Germany.
 The Russian ministry of marine has re- duced very considerably the demands originally made for the increase of the navy. and it's latest programme, which, it is thought, will probably be decided ppon. provides for the construction be- tw ger 1912 and 1917 of four battle cruisers, four small armored cruisers, 36 destroy org and l2 submarines. Nevertheless, the cost of the whole work, including the de- ye.cpment of bases in the Baltic, VIII not be less than s27oO00,W0
 The battle cruisers will be the most formidable ships of their class yet de- siened. their armament consisting Of F II inch guns Their speed Is to be 27 knots.
 Tie four small armored cruisers will d., ulace 5000 tons while the destroyers will steam 36 knots.
 r,o,ncident with the shipbuilding pro- sr. nme is A scheme for the development of RevaI as a naval base in place of Cron- stadt with the object of securing . depot flat shall be more or less ice-free all the y,ar round. At Reval there are to be built five dry docks, two for ships of the largest size, one for cruisers. and two for destroyers. Tn addition floating dock with lifting capacity or 4oooo tons VII ba built and stationed there. Cronstadt vilI he maintained simply as repairing yaid.
 t,,sefa alraady has seven dreadnaugfts