Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-09
COUNT ZEPPELIN
AIMS AT FLIGHT
OVERSEA TO U. S.
Peace Mission, However,
Hope Of Aged Teuton,
Who Sees Great Possibili-
ties for Dirigible.
- Karl Il. Won w1EaAND
dfnitsd Press stan corresOondsnt)


djnitsd Press stan Correspondent
gcepyrisht 1918, by the United Press copy
BERLIN Feb. /, via The Hague and
london, Feb. s.-"I have always hoped
to be the hrst TO pilot an airship across
the Atlantic. have believed that 10 do
40 would be the browning enort Vt my
career" declared Count Ferdinand Won
Zeppelin tonight when he resumed his DIS
cunsion of the possibilities OF the giant
aircraft that bears his name. Not to
lombard New York and washington 4
asked him quickly.
The Count was very grave as ne re-
piled. It was plain from his general atu.
tude that he has been greatly troubled
over the charges Of ruthlessness IN the
use Of dirigibies in war and the intima-
tionn that they we're beyond the pale
OF civilized warfare.
"'rhrow bombs on people who have
been 80 kind to me when ! was among
thern'' he cried 'Neverl Never! l
want to sail on a peaceful mission wnen
no to America. My greatest ambition
has not been to create an engine OF oe-
struction. It has been to demonsuete
that the Zeppeilns were suited to far
greater purposes than to be used as mere
Instruments Of warfare.
The Count continued: "I must try to
live long enough, or fear that 1t won't
be accomplished, at least not in the near
future"
sThen YOU believe that transatlantic
aerial travel with a dirigible Of the type
you have constructed Is possioieF
asked.
AS MAIL CARRIERS.
mot only possible, but practicable. This
war has Interfered with my plans. l
know that aerial travel will become the
quickest and safest method. Zeppelins, in
their development, have, in my opinion,
A great future before them. Few people
know the delight and safety OF travel
therein. They will become great factors
for quick passenger and mail service
''How long do you believe that II would
take Zeppelin to make the flight from
here to NewYork?" ! asked.
''Three or four days perhaps more. per-
haps less. 1t would depend on the
weather, anyhow It was hardly expected
that the first voyage would be made IN
the shortest time, any more than that the
first steamships established the record
what will be the trend of development
IN the zeppelins in the future?"
"Where they are to be utilized for war
craft a form OF construction that Will per-
NIT them to fly much higher than at
present For commercial purposes they
must have greater carrying capacity and
greater speed. AS compared with the
years It took to develop the railroads my
aircraft are merely beginning their
careers At present they are too much
dependent on wind and weather.
with the exception of the first flight
that made cannot conceive more IN
spring moment than when 1 can pilot
one of my cruisers into New York and
then go on 10 Washington"
l suggested that ne might have sent
one of his Zeppelins to San Francisco
for exhibition at the Panama-Pacific Ex-
position.
NO" he declared emphatically. NO
do not want a Zeppelin to make her
first voyage across the Atlantic In the
freight hold of a steamship. She viii
make It under her own power"
MEETING WITH LINCOLN.
For several hours the Count related Incl
dents OF his experience in America during
the Civil War. He told of meeting Pres-
dent Lincoln as a military attache and
representative of the King OF Wurttem-
berg.
rThe President was sitting at his desk.
very busy His private secretary, young
Seward, son OF the Secretary of State,
was sitting on a table dangling his legs
in the air Lincoln. tall and gaunt.
greeted me very cordially. He made the
impression on me that the Kaiser always
makes on me when 1 meet him. Lin
coin in particular was deeply concerned
about the cruelties of the war, or what
you now refer to as atrocities. People
had the same impressions then as they
have now. This was best shown by a
popnlar song, the refrain of which goes
IL ] remember right, When this cruel war
is over The President gave me mill
. tary pass with his signature, and l stu
cherish IL as one OF my most priced pos
sessions.''
COUNTS FIRST FLIGHT.
II made my first balloon ascension at
81 Paul, and not on the Civil War firing
line, as has been frequently said. A
major OF the Union army whose name 1
have forgotten was there and had a cap
tive balloon. I wanted a real sensation,
and arranged for the use OF the balloon.
he to cut the rope and let me make long
night after had got up to the limit. 1
bought all of the spare gas that the St
Paul Gas Works would let me have, and
WAS able to get up several hundred feet,
hut the gas was OF so poor quality that l
could not get the bag filled sufficiently 10
essay long flight. Yet while was above
ST Paul had my first idea OF aerial nav
igation strongly impressed upon me, and
It was there that the first idea OF my
ZeppelInH came to me. Even in 1863 ST.
Paul was pTetentious enough to have a
q photograph OF myself taken at that
time. l returned south by way OF Mil
waukee, where many houses were being
raised on higher foundations on account
OF the high water from the lake. In New
York / witnessed the draft riots and saw
the police shooting into the mob.
II had many friends In America, but
/ fear that few OF them have cared to
live as long as have. Perhaps none will
be left when / come again, IL come in
one OF my cruisers"