Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-08
FINISH ARRANGEMENTS
FOR GIANT D|R|CIBLE
New Aircraft, Will Embody
All improvements Suy-
gcsted During War.
SECRETS GUARDED Carefully
Company Reluctant About Exposing
Details to Foreign Competitors.
Confidential Agreement Entered
Into.

BERLIN, July 7.-Arransements
Tor The construction OF Americas di-
iigiblc. which Will cmbody all the
improvements suggested by wartime
experiments and the post -belium
stU.ics OF Zeppelin designers, and
Will represent the best developed air
snip and motors have been COM
p"t"d. Agreement has been reached
on designs. specifications. terms OF
payment delivery and German gov
crnmcnt representatives are now en-
Gagged in comparing and verifying
the German and American texts OF
inc contracts preliminary to their
signature. Anticipating speedy sig
Hatur" o: the contracts. Zeppelin cX-
merits made a trip Sunday to Fried
richsha;"n To arrange for rcopening
the long-!dic building Of the plan;
on the sncreS OF Lake Constance and
FOR icasscmblinp the working force.
so construction could begin iInmedi-
atetN. The diris iblc should be ready.
according 10 the contract terms. TO
start it, transatlantic trip late In
IN" summer OF next year.
The contracts provide that TO-
600 cubic meter airship shall have n
@f''h VI H'NtiINN lIilitS an nOuf ana n
height of 1000 meters and lifting
capacity enabling II 10 carry twenty
passengers in addition to the crew
and have a radius sufficient TO take
her across the Atlantic with an ample
margin OF safety. even IN case OF
violent adverse winds The United
states assumes no risk OF tho safe
arrival OF the Zeppelin on the Amcri-
can side. the terms being strictly c.
.. d.. New York Germany. and the
company accepting full guaranty for
delivery into the hands OF the Amer
lean naval authorities either at Lake
wood. y. j.. or alternatively within a
:50-milc radius OF New York.
y" Have Powerful Wireless
The airship Will be provided with
powerful! wireless equipment.
The consiruciinS company must
make enough trial trips in Germany
to demonstrate. the air worth!ness
safety ami operation OF the craft
before contemplating transatlantic
voyage. This element OF safety is a
factor on which Captain Frank t.
tpham, who conducted the neyo:ia.
lions on behalf Of the Navy Depart
ment insisted above all else. sad.
oened by The experience with the
British and Italian dirigibles and
feeling that the future Of diric,bl,
navigation in the United States was
dependent upon the avoidance of
further catastrophe, Captain Upham
told the Zeppelin representatives the
United states was willing to sub.
! ordinate all other qualities, such a.
| speed and carrying capacity, TO make
| the ship as absolutely safe as nos
s!ble.
The contract is so drafted that the
airship delivered into the hands OF
the navy representatives at Lake
wood, in perfect condition and with
SIX months guarantee on construc.
ton and material. Will not cost the
United States government n single
cent the whole expense being met
by the 3.03i,oo0 gold marks awarded
the United States rs its share OF
compensation for the Zeppelins de.
stroyed during the armistice
Technical "Details Confidential.
The difficulties arising from the
reluctance OF the company 10 place
its latest secrets at the disposal OF
foreign competitors were met by con
s;ractine that all technical details
and secrets should be regarded ms
confidential, subject to America 8
obligation 10 furnish general plans ia
the aSSoci3tcd powers. Finally, the
company agrees 10 furnish The SER
vices Of an experienced crew az in
structors of the navy personnel for
a. long period as the department
requires.
All in all, the day seems near
when count Zeppelln's long cher
ishcd plan to have one OF his dirigi-
h!es cross the Atlantic will come
true.
&C., 1922, by Public Ledger Coz