The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-06-03

s considered Wore Honorable han
Even Crack Regiment-Seldom Fail
to Pass Hard Test Because Of inter
est Taken.
Geneva, Switzerland. - When the
English took Il Zeppelin crew recently
the two officers included among the
prisoners were referred to in London
dispatches as Germans "of quite su-
perior type"
They ought TO have been If social and
educational superiority" was meant
The kaiser has chosen his Zeppelin
commanders as far as possible from
the eldest sons OF the noblest families
in Germany
That the pair on the airship which
fell in the Thames estuary were Of this
class is not necessarily indicated 10y
the names they -CaptainI Iieuten-
ant Breithaupt ana Ober-Lieutenant
Kuhne. 1t is surmlsed here. however.
that they did not give their real names
Selections are usually made of men
between the ages of eighteen and TWEEN
haupt IS described as thirty-three
years old II IL guessed that he has
been in the German aerial service for
"a long time, his earlier experience prob
ably antedating the war and reaching
back TO the time when the Zeppelin
was in only its experimental stage
This is thought 10 accord with the
story that he was decorated with the
insignia Of the iron cross and the pour
le meritc. implying that he has had a
brilliant career and much experience
as an airship commander
Kuhne. his subordinate. is supposed
to be younger and less thoroughly
tried man.
\ commission in the air service is
considered In Germany more honorable
than even one IN the crack regiments.
Training for the service begins on
one Of the huge rafts. each surmount-
e1 by Zeppelin she'd on the German
side OF Lake Constance.
The course begins with detailed
mechanical course. Meteorological ana
navigation studies follow.
After three or four months Of this
"A party Of eve candidates is allowed TO
make a fight under an experienced
pilot, who explains the use Of rudder.
propellcrS. elevators and the best meth
DDS Of rising and descending.
Several such trips take place. and
then the most promising cadet is given
command for a trial voyage under
strict orders not 10 venture out Of sight
Of his home shed.
Little by little these trips nre ex-
tended 70 Berlin. Leipzig Brussels and
finally IIelgoland.
BY this time the student is supposed
to have gained full knowledge OF
handling u Zeppelin. working its en-
glnes and of the principles of aerostat-
les. wireless telcgraphy. gunnery and
the theory Of flight
In the meantime instruction I'm bomb
dropping has not been forgotten.
The young pilot IS trained always to
have the wind astcrn. with his air.
ships bow pointing ut his target
Formulas have been worked out mi
nutely, allowing both for the Zeppe
Inns speed and the strength of the
wind
Altitude also figures Importantly I'm
the calculations.
Practice Is obtained by bomb drop
ping upon miniature dummy warships
on Lake Constance.
At length the student Is allowed to
make n trial flight or two across the
fighting lines and If he acquits him
self creditably is considered ready TO
take part In a real raid as second In
command.
A little later, If he acquits himself
creditably. he Is given IA Zeppelin of
his own.
Examinations during the period of
instruction are monthly and OF great
severity.
In the final examination a percent
age Of 10 must be reached. If he fails
he Is dropped from the service
So carefully are selections originally
made, however; SO stringent is the sub
sequent wedding out process and so
anxious is the average young German
TO succeed as an airship skipper that