Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-23

A visit OF inspection to the Boche Zeppe-
lin that was brought down Saturday near
Bourbonne-les-Bains. in the vosges, shows
that the huge dirigible is intact. This is
the first Zeppelin brought down in such con-
dltion since the war began
II was one OF the five that were returning
from the raid on London -Four of them
were brought to earth in France. One was
downed at st. Clement and another at
Nontigney. Botf OF these were In flames
and were destroyed, together with their
crews, by the French anti-aircraft guns.
Another Zeppelin was brought down in the
French Alps. II Is not yet known in what
condition II Is.
The fourth was the one I saw. It had
been forced TO earth by a heroic French
aviator. only twenty-one years old, who.
upon spying the enemy, hastily went aloft.
He was without sufficient clothing and suf-
fered fearfully as he few above the airship
and peppered it with his mitraileuse. The
aim of the Frenchman was so accurate that
he forced the big ship TO land, but he him
self came to earth precipitately, cutting his
face in the landing.
HOLDS UP ENTIRE CREW
Notwithstanding this he held up the en-
tire Zeppelin crew Of two officers and seven
teen men at the point Of two automatic re-
volvers and. single-handed, effected their
capture Immediately after, eight American
marines who appeared to be on leave from
their far-off camp, came to the rescue of
the aviator. holding the Boche prisoners
until the arrival of the French authorities
I personally inspected the airship, inside
and outside and underneath it's entire length,
from the stern to the forward section. The
landing having been made in mountainous
country. the airship had pitched down and
lay at an angle of 20 degrees, with its nose
buried in a stream. The stern was resting
amid a clump of pines. Walking under
meath the ship It was possible to see nearly
its full length.
GIGANTIC AIR PIRATE
The total length of the Zeppelin is 500
feet, with diameter Of ninety feet. It
has aluminium frame, with longitudinal
and horizontal ribs, and is covered with
stoLe, interlaced cord. over this is the
outside cover of linen, painted black. The
shape is that of an exaggerated fat cigar.
Two silk balloons fill the interior, holding
the hydrogen gas which gives the lifting
power. Slated runways, nine inches wide,
with pine gude-rais, extend the length of
the airship. There are sleeping quarters,
an electric kitchen, telephones and an elab-
crate system of electric push buttons. The
five great steel engines have twelve cylinders
Of vertical type The propellers are of wood
One is suspended forward next to the chart
room and the commanders quarters. Two
are placed annidship, one on the starboard
and the other on the port side. Two more
are at the stern. Access to the body
of the dirigible is obtained by means Of
fixed ladders.
The equipment included Arctic clothing,
an oxygen manufacturing apparatus for
use in high attitudes, condensed foods,
medicinal supplies and charts elaborately
squared, showing France, England, Holland,
Switzerland and Germany.
DEATH-DEALING BOMBS
bomb-dropping apparatus is located d.
rectly amidships The bombs are suspended
over trapdoor, which opens electrically,
releasing the bombs There is space for
twelve bombs but all had been dropped.
An electric fire extinguishing apparatus is
also included in the equipment. In fact.
there is every appliance for facilitating muir
der from the air. ..'
Just before being brought to earth the
commander emptied the contents of an
automatic revolver into the forward engine
tn a vain effort to wreck it. Six unused
incendlary bombs were found in the COM
mander's quarters. Barring some tears
and rips to the envelope and the buckling
Of the stern where 1t rested amid the pines,
the airship absolutely undamaged.
This is the most complete capture that
has been made in the war or is likely to
be made.
An airshlp like this captured one could
readily be constructed from this model The
Zeppelin had painted forward and also on
the stern "L1-49" in red letters, with the
German white cross on the sides amid
ships. I encircled the alrship completely
after had been through the interior. The
spectacle was dItllu lIe autumn
tints of the foliage and the blue-clouded
sky. i was greatly facilitated in this un-
usual inspection through the courtesy Of
q French general, an acquaintance OF mine,
and was thus able to obtain a rare oppor-
tunity, not accorded TO others.
ZEPPELIN DROPS CREW
The half-frozen aviator who made this
notable capture escorted the two Zeppelin
officers to nearby jail One other Zeppe-
ItSnN
throwing out much OF the contents and also
sending thirteen Of the crew to earth in
parachutes These thirteen were also cap
tured. This occurred sixty miles from
where the Lao landed
The days work was the greatest record
OF its kind since the war began and is likely
never TO be equaled
German newspapers found in the forward
gondola of the Zeppelin Lac indicate that
the captured monster may have made the
longest airship flight in history. A copy
OF the Reichenbachen Tabeblatt, published
IN Reichenbachen Saxony, on Thursday
October 49, was found. Since the Zeppe-
Inns reached London late Friday night, It
seems possible that the airship started
oither from Rechenbachen or the imme-
diate vicinity, as 1t is unlikely that a
Newspaper from the small Saxony town
would be on sale in all parts of Germany.
The approximate distance from Reichen-
bachen 70 London is about $40 miles and
. tno hppEO1llnANe olSlhnSe lIoIns l@ouuou nerc
u 372 miles.
The zeppelin's instrument for calculating
altitude showed she had ascended dis
tance Of $4,000 feet, perhaps setting a new
worlds record for altitude. II the reading
is correct The face Of one member of the
crew was frozen, despite his heavy cloth
Ing.
This French Minister Of Aviation and
several air experts from Paris visited the
Zeppelin yesterday. but for fear OF vandal-
ism nobody was allowed to approach the
dirigible except on signed order from the
Commanding coloneh Nevertheless. there
has been a steady pilgrimage to the scene
from many distant cities, Among the
crowds could be seen mothers pushing baby
carriages.
A gang of workmen has now begun to
dIHmantle the Zeppelin. fearing that q
severe storm might wreck 1t. It will be
Reconstructed and set up for French aero
nautic experts to study.
VAST STOCK OF SUGAR
~ csuerrn 80 =. sx.-w