Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-07-07
COUNT ZEPPELIN WILL ATTAIN AGE
 OF SC TOMORROW
One of Germany's "Grand Old Men" with Schurz'
 Brigade in Civil War.

Amsterdam, July 7-Count Ferdi nand von Zeppelin will enter upon his eightieth year tomorrow and the oc- casion is to be observed with celebra- tions in all parts of Germany, accord ing to dispatches from Berlin. Count von Zeppelin himself will have little or no part in the celebration of his birthday anniversary. Since the be- ginning of the war he has seldom, left the Zeppelin works at Lake Con- stance, where he has worked almost day and night planning and superin- tending the building of the huge di- rigible balloons which the Germans have employed in their raids on Eng land. How many of these airships have been constructed since the be- ginning of the war will probably nev- CT be known to the public until after the great conflict is ended. It is known, however, that the fleet has steadily increased in numbers, despite the fact that many have met with de- struction in the raids on the British Isles. There is Ialso evidence to show that the Zeppelins have increas- ed in size and efficiency during the past six months. According to recent reports from Berlin the aircraft now building will be fifty per cent larger than the Zeppelins now in commits sion. They will possess a proportion ate increase in lifting power and con- sequently will be capable of carrying a much larger quantity of explosives than the existing craft of the same type. And what is of ever more i'm portance, the new Zeppelins will be able to drop their bombs from a much greater height than heretofore, which is expected to render them practically immune from land or wa te: gunfire.
 To few of the worlds greatest in ventors has fame come so tardily and reluctantly as it has to the man who brought to perfection the dirigible air ship, and who is now characterized by his emperor as "the greatest Ger man of the century" Few inventors have encountered such relentless ob- stacles and overcome them by an in domitable a spirit At the age of 75 years he and his invention were the subjects of public ridicule. Today, on the threshold of his eightieth year, he is honored by the entire German nation and his invention is hailed as one of the most effective weapons that Germany has been able to bring to bear on her enemies in the present war.
 In Civil War in U. s.
 It is not generally known that Count von Zeppelin made his first flight in the United States. At p years of age, as a lieutenant of cav airy, he was Wurtemburg's military attache and observer with the union army in the American civil war. Join ing the army of the Mississippi, he was attached to General Carl Schurz' brigade. It was then that he had his first taste of aeronautics. He went up in a balloon sent up by the federal army to spy out the positions of the Confederates. Zeppelin not only vol unteered, but begged to be permitted to go up. His request was grant d and during the remainder of his ser vice with the federal army he made numerous balloon ascensions.
 When he returned to Germany at the close of the American conflict he was imbued with strong taste for aeronautics and it is said that even at that early day he already dreamed of navigating the air in a dirigible balloon. Many years were to elapse. however before he could begin the practical execution of his plans. He distinguished himself in the war with Austria. in 1866 and in the Franco Prusssian war four years later, as an officer of Prussian cavalry regiment.
 Many thousands of dollars were us ed up and many lives lost before the Zeppelin became an accomplished fact. With each successive disaster the aged inventor set to work to eliminate the imper,ections. Wealthy and influential friends. among them the emperor, shred Zeppalin'a faith