The New York herald., 1921-08-25

seventy miles an hour. At normal speed
its endurance Is estimated at $500 miles.
Its ceiling is about $4,000 feet.
Fifty gasolene tanks carefully dis
tributed and all connected by pipes 70
the main drain will carry thirty tons
of gasolene. These tanks show many
improvements They are so arranged
that each can be dropped clear Of the
ship by pulling single lever. During
the war the Germans cften placed their
gas tanks so that they could drop them
when greater altitude was absolutely es-
sential The ship viii also carry ten
tons Of water with n few emergency
tanks added and equipped so that the
entire capacity OF the tank can be
dropped instantly.
Many Innovations can be seen in the
control car. Everything is arranged In
the most convenient manner. and the
designers say that the controls have a
touch more delicate than ever realized
before in airshlps. The control car is
somewhat smaller than on the R-S4.
but at the same time more comfortable.
The wireless house is completely built
In so that the operator will enjoy quiet.
At the rear of the control car is de-
cidedly new idea in the form OF a COM
mander's quarters This room IS small,
but large enough for comfort.
Equipped for Light Cooking.
"Four OF the engine carriers are
equipped so that light cooking can be
done by exhaust heating. The crew OF
the ZR-2 will be able TO have hot soup
and ham and eggs on their journey
across the ocean, but any extensive
cooking will not be possible.
"The ZR-2 actually combines. accord
/ ing to its designers, the good features
| of all alrships as well as later develop
ments. The British designers made an
extensive study OF the German Zeppelins
and found some very good ideas which
they put into practice in the ship built
| for America. One instance is seen in the
| ladders running from the bag to the
engine carriers. They are the kind that
fold up when not In use so that they
resemble O. plain strut excellently stream
| lined.
"The design OF the ship was originally
decided upon by the Admiralty In the
spring Of 1918 and construction was be-
gun at Cardington in November of thai
| year. In Aprfl of the following year
the work was taken over by the All
Ministry and then sold to the American
Government as an act of British friend
ship for America according to one high
official The story of German progress
in rigid airships during the war Is
mainly a record of ever increasing
efficiency gained by CONSTITUTIONAL i'm.
provements to reduce weight, both II
the hull and the machinery, and the
British have done the same thing with
their R-3S. or the ZR-2. as America ha;
called it. 1t was originally planned tc
build four airships of this class. but
the other three were cancelled after the
| armstice.
The hull structure is OF duralumir
and consists of a number of Longitudinal
lattice girders connected transverseiy
by other lattice girders, which form a
series OF rings, the longitudinals and
rings being braced by wire. Nothing as
light and as strong has ever been built
before. When the ship on the ground is
perfectly tuned up with the atmosphere
two men can lift it above. their heads
| The structure contains fourteen COM
partments, in each of which Is a gas
\ bag made Of fabric and gold beater's
\ skin. The corridors leading TO the
! tanks. the hatchways for the engine
1 carriers and the sleeping and living
| quarters of the crew are as comfortable
\ to walk through as the companionway
4 on a steamship.
.If the ZR-2 were converted for COM
mercial work 1t could carry forty pas