Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-05

London, July 4.-Uncle Sam will
soon become the possessor of the Brit
ish built R-Ss. the largest rigid air.
ship yet constructed in any country
and craft that represents the very
last word" in aerial dreadnought"
designing.
Trim and smart as the quarter deck
of an admiral's nagship, the R-3s, soon
to be designated officially by her new
American name. ZR-2, is claimed to be
the most formidable craft ever to
take the air"
She is expected TO Re capable of s.
600 miles fight at full speed-7o miles
per hour-or $500 miles at a cruising
speed of 60 miles per hour.
Her speCifiCa tions call for an arml-
ment of IA Lewis guns, a one-pound
automatic gun. four bombs of so
pounds and eight bombs of 230 pounds.
The machine guns are distributed at
vantage points so that any form of at
tack, from land sea or air, might ef-
fectually he combated.
The ships heavy armament serves
as an index to her character. She is
designed to serve. If occasion arises,
as the general headquarters of a
emergency. an auxiliary business
end" From the compact, convenient
"skipper's" cabin close up under her
nose to the neat little machine gum
ner's nest at he very tip of her
stern. ZR-2s arrangement and con-
struction spells efficiency and strict
ly business"
without extensive alterations, the
ZE-2 could not Accommodate com-
fortably party of s. persons as did
Roma" after being taken over by
the American government recently.
But If submarine were sighted
ZR-2 could vancouver into position
then the mere pressing OF n button IN
tho captains control cabin would re-
lease a bomb. or a dozen bombs, If re-
quired. 10 do in" the enemy rnder-
sea boat.
II enemy sirplanes became bother
some during this Procedure they
would not find as was the case with
the German zeppelins, that there was
an unprotected spot urder the ZR-2s
lower part af, where they could hover
and pump machine gun bullets into
her gasoline tanks. To meet just such
q contingency there Is the stern ma
Chine gun nest. one situated some 30
yards ahead on the under part of the
rhip. and one in each OF four Of the
ships engine cars, which are sus-
pended at her sides.
Should the attack come from above.
4 gunner. protected from the fury Of
hish altitude winds in a cockpit at the
top OF the ship. would probably be
able to do anything necessary with his
!, one-pound automatic piece.
These represent some OF the many
improvements. indicated by eSamina-
ton OF wheclJed Zeppelins and other
experience. which have been incorpor-
nted in the ZB-e.
Seen in night. the ZE-2 will be much
Ike her Flster-ship Pa. Of trans-At-
lantic fame But her shimmcrinG sides
and clean appearance conceal con-
fusion of interior workings" that, to
ono unaccustomed TO such craft. Is
most bewildering.
As one proceeds. along the narrow
"man-hiEh" corridor which extends the
"ntir. length Of the ship, he sees a
complication Of criss CROSSED alumni
um slrders. rowA Of gasoline and water
tanks, o miscellany Of guy wires. con
troll vnlve.. pipes. sviveis. hinges and
Ecw-usws that defy understanding
But after guide who knows every
inch OF the gigantic bulk has made
explanations the handling OF the ship
~ seen to he simplicity itself
Thus. the skipper" standing OF the
whNoi in his cabin, Just as n sea cap
tain on the bridge. has within reach n
miscellany OF buttons. switches and
levers. electrically controlled. with
which he can release ballast water,
dcflste one or more gas BAGS. empty
his Casollnc tanks, start n bomb to-
wards an objective and. OF course.
steer the ship Upward. downward. to
right or left.
He can send orders thru n telephone
system which connects M the whole
ship, for the starting or stopping OF
one or all Of tho ships six propeilinI
engines, advise his machine gurners
OF the approach OF an enemy or. thru
the operator at his back. send obser-
vationE hy wireless TO a flagship or
lsnd base
Comfortable hunks are provided for
the off-shifi Of the crews-in all. 30
officers and men. During prolonged