The Sentinel=record., 1914-08-09

-
in any other country. Russia's equip
meat being the newest.
Germany's dirieible strength is the
greatest and AustMa's is very i'm
portant Ten Zeppelins were recent
~ ordered by the latter country bnt
have not yet been delivered Com
bned the drgible forces of Austria
ana Germany total Mt least 2C These
include two Zeppeiins in Austria and
eight in Germany varying Ia cubic
meter capacity from 1900 to 1900
France has an excellent fleet Of
dirieibles however some Of them be
ing exceedingly fast, and, besides
holding the dirigiblo speed record
French military diriaibles hold the
worlds duration record -35 hours and
10 minutes This record was recently
made by the 5000 cubic meter L'Ad
iutant Vincenot breaking the record
of "a hours, 80 minutes previously
held by a Zeppelin Of $4,000 cubic
meters capacity.
|
ing dirigibles of Germany having but
one Of the Zeppelin type-the Spiess.
Russia is equally Ill equipped in that
particular.
Just how powerful the combined
airship fleets OF Germany and Austria
will prove can only be a matter Of
conjecture but the first spectacular
event OF the war, the destruction of a
| Zeppelin by Roland Garros the pilot
who Gew in Chicago in 1871, augrs
i'll for the success of these monsteT
dirigible balloons in actual warfare.
A writer who claims to have work
ed as mechanic ON the military air
craft of every nation in Europe makes
a statement about Rssia which is ann
pie proof that he has not been at
work there within the last three
years. He says: con the Russian
/ frontier Germany will find only trif-
Ling resistance to her air fleetst
This is ridiculous, for RUSSIA has
enough aeropancs OF the right sort
to destroy all OF Germany's airsAipg
and aeroplanes, provided Russia's
planes are efficiently utilized. That
Russia viii prove extremely efficient
in the use of her equipment is the
opinion of ayiators who have spent
much time there. Yet the fact is that
few records where daring has been
a factor have ever been approached
by Russian pilots according to Of
fetal records.
Needless to say. no one knows
even nations whose spies are suppos
Cd to get information how many
military machines of one form OF an
other are now in commission for ac
tual war service. The only really
practical way to estimate the aero
strength OF nations is to follow thc
aero-mlitary progress OF each coun
try as closely as possible through
every available source of informatioa
for three or four years. week 10 week
; and day to day
1t is impossible to give the figure.
hardly after a few days research
, And it is very amusing to read tht
various statements on this grippnl
, subject and to note the guesses made
! in various quarters
II we sum mp the qualities of taC
various aeroplane Fleets we win fin,
that France has the largest. but thai
a number of old machines are iu
clnded. We viii also find that she ha.
the largest number of pilots skilled IN
q. really great flying and more aero
planes OF the highest elriciene,
t privately owned than any other com
try.
On the other hand we find in Ger
many an unusually high percentage OF
up to date machines in the acrop'aue
: corps. The pilots are we'll trained
+ hardened mel, il we are to Judge
them by their exploits and the tests
, that they must pass to obtain their
oreyets.
Russia has an equipment consisting
5 of fully 80 per cent of machines not
more than two years old and her dar
7 ing officer-pilots fly like veritablo
} cossacks of the air
Austrian aviators have recently dis
e tingushed themselves ana won much
credit for their excellent work. which
+ previous to the Vienna meeting was
not highly appreciated. Yet Austria's
= pilots and aeroplane equipment are
not considered to be of the highest
2 e.ass, but that they will prove potent
] IN the present emergency is, however
= certain.