Evening star., 1914-08-02
Of AIR
T0F|GURE IN WAR
France First With AeropIane
Fleet, Germany With
-
DirigibIes.
ENGLAND IS BEHINDHAND;
AIMS NOW AT BEST TYPE

Comparisons Of Two Styles of Craft
Indicates Advantages for Both.
Offensive and Defensive Uses.
From the Journal Of the Franklin Institute.
Recognition by the public Of the value
of air craft in national defense has led
to the development of an industry devoted
to the supply of dirigibles and aeroplanes.
Especially in France and Germany has
aeronautics been stimulated in this man
ner. France developed the first practical
dirigibles, but has until recently concen-
trated her energy chiefly upon aeroplanes,
with the result that at the present time
the French army is estimated to have
between 500 and 1000 aeroplanes in serv-
ice. These aeroplanes are. moreover, of
types that represent the highest develop
ment In aeroplane design. On the other
hand. Germany, realizing the mepace of
this aerial force and the impossibility of
duplicating it, has recognized the posi-
bilities of the dirigible and given liberal
support to the development of the ships
Of Count Zeppelin and Maj. Won Parse
val. Great sums have been spent and
many lives have been lost, but the re-
ward has already come. The German
army now possesses a splendid fleet OF
twenty-five airships, representing the
highest development in airship design.
At the same time France has brought her
fleet of airships up to eighteen, and Ger
many has some 200 military aeroplaneS,
with large civilian reserve. 1t has be-
come race for the supremacy of the air
between two great powers whose capitals
lie within the radius of action of air
craft from each other.
England Is Behindhand.
England has recently Joined the race
for supremacy, and, apparently realizing
that it is too late to overtake her con-
tinental rivals by the mere multiplying of
units, has directed every effort toward
the development Of air craft superior in
design to the existing types. Foreign
machines have been purchased literally,
and an aerodynamic laboratory and an
experimental air craft factory have been
built. Englands future in aeronautics
is placed in the hands of an advisory
committee headed by Lord Rayleigh and
composed Of distinguished scientists and
engineers. The race then is not only
between the factories, but also between
the laboratories. The production of a
type of marked superiority will immedi-
ately make obsolete the aerial forces OF
other powers.
Due to high cost of maintenance. some
danger and dependence upon weather
conditions, afrships have not yet been
proved Of great commercial value. 1t
is true that thousands Of passengers have
been carried by the Zeppelins of the
Delag Company in Germany, but this pas
senger-carrying business SO far has been
of the nature of Sightseeing trips up the
Rhine or around and over Berlin. There
is no more delightful way to see the
country. Provided with good map, a
passenger can become acquainted with a
great area of country in a few hours
time. This facility for observation leads
at once to the consideration Of the use
Of airships in time of war.
Capacity Of the Dirigible.
The dirigible, operating in clear wealth
er at an altitude of some 5000 feet, is
fairly safe from gun fire and yet not too
high for a trained observer to detect the
movements Of large forces on the ground
general features of fortifications. num-
ber and type of ships in a harbor, pres
ence or absence Of bridges and railroad
tracks. The dirigible can stop its motors
and float slowly above ground 1t Is de-
sired to observe. The aeroplane cannot
perform such service except by circilng
above a given area, thus reducing its
fuel supply and future usefulness. The
great test in military operations of the
dirigible will be for longdistance recon-
noissance. In a country whose probable
enemies lie within the radius of action of
air craft, dirigibles may be used at or
before the opening Of hostilities to pass
over the enemy's frontier to observe the
march and probable destination. A dirig-
ible, unlike an aeroplane, lis fitted with
wireless telegraph for both sending and
receiving messages, and may keep in
constant communication with its base.
The radius of action in a calm of large
rigid airships may be 1000 miles, and
medium-sized non-rigid ships 600 miles.
An aeroplane cannot be depended on
for more than 400 miles when an observ-
er must be carried in addition to the
passenger. A dirigible can save fuel by
drifting with the wind, and it is well
known that by selecting suitable eleva-
ton a favorable wind can very often
is found when the wind on the ground
is contrary.
Usefulness at Night.
The greatest usefulness of the dirigible
will be at night. At the present time
aeroplanes cannot be flown at night. The
dirigible at night can travel close to the
ground without danger from gun fire
and can observe the extent and DISPOSE
ton of camps.
could use large rigid dirigibies for distant
scouting to develop the eneny's principal
movements preceding the actual meeting.
Due to its portability any expeditions
into the interior of an enemy's country
or in the colonies would be best served
by non-rigid dirigibles These ships are
easily Grated for. shipment and can be
inflated in the field from bottled hydro
gen or a portable gas plant drawn by a
motor truck. Large sheds are not neces-
sary. as the ship can be moored In the
open to a post in good weather and de-
flated in a violent storm. In cases where
both rigid and non-rigid airships might
be used, the non-rigid ships might OBJ
serve from a safe altitude the progress
Of battle and the effect of artillery fire.
Aeroplanes would be used for transpor-
tation of staff officers. dispatch duty and
scouting within the limits of the battle
field The same functions at night would
be performed by the non-risid dirigible
In case of siege, where the enemy has
possession of a great expanse of sur
rounding country, communication with
the besieged forces could be had by
means of a dirigible of sufficient radius Of
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