The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-11

ryHE air trip from Dusseldorf to
Berlin on the Viktoria Luise
i had been booked more than a
month In advance. And 1t was well
that the precaution had been taken,
for the demand for places on the giant
Zeppelin flyer is far beyond the air
ehip's capacity. 1t would seem as
though all Germany is clamoring Tor
an opportunity to spend It's money IN
the air.
The yilxtoria Iuise was advertised to
ileaye Dusseldorf at 4:30 in the MORN
| ing, and though 1 arrived at the air.
shin dock a full hour before that time
! | found 1t place of life and energy
The pilot was making careful IN
spection of the great ship while 1t stili
rode at anchor within Its shed. Mem
bers of the crew were testing the mo-
tors and propellers, while others were
climbing through the upper structure
tc see that everything was right and
tight.
After the arrival of my fellow pas
sengers, who numbered 2S, the auto
matte docking apparatus drew the snip
II into the open, and as we entered the
cabin there was not one OF us VINO
did not show evidences of fever OF
excitement Air was pumped into the
last ballonet at the stern. and the Vik-
toria Luise tilted its nose at rather
sharp angle toward the sky. So nicely
balanced was the ship between lift and
dead weight that the driving power OF
the motors was required to send IL up
ward like an aeroplane. AS soon as
satisfactory level was reached the air
was discharged, and we assumed per-
fectly level position.
| Zeppelin airship leaves the earuh
with none of the balloons soaring mo-
tion. 1t is just like train, started
without perceptible jar and kept In
motion upon a perfect roadbed, perfect
track and perfect wheels
Leaving Dulmen behind, the northern
foothills of the Teutoburger Wald
stretched across our course. All three
motors were running, though not,
was told, at top speed, and we were
making about A miles an hour. on
another trip the Victoria Luise, under
normal conditions, covered fraction
more than 40 miles an hour
Bremen came to us a little petore
o'clock, and as we swept in wide cir
cles above the city. we could see its
armies of men going to their WORK
They were little interested In us. Ihe
airship is an old story in Germany
Hamburg was reached just an hour ana
| a half after we left Bremen behind
Again we made great loops over the
CITY. which, with its harbor wharves
and houses. was spread out as though
lit had been modelled of clay. From
Hamburg we took a southeast course
against the wind travelling In the dl-
rection of Berlin. At noon we were
living up the Elbe valley by way oi
Bergedorf and Domitz In another two
hours we reached Wittenberg.
In the meantime individual tables
/ had been placed In position. and lunch
con was served much as 1t is in the
ordinary. dining car. There was soup
an entree, roast-all piping hot
vegetables, salad, cheese and coffee
More of a dinner than luncheon, and
all served as though the chef and wait
ers had the conveniences of great
hotel at their command
The principles of the fireless cooker
| had been brought into service in pre-
pairing the food, the exhaust from the
engines being made to supplF heat
/ After luncheon several passengers
oozed comfortably in their arm chairs
enjoying the sun that shone through
1.-THE starboard windows. A better place
lfor an afternoon nap than the cabir
of Zeppelin air ship cannot well be
imagined.
| shortly before O'Clock we passed
1.-THE lofty wireless tower at Nauen
from which msssasfs have frequently