The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-07
US. TO HAVE
BIG GERMAN
DIRICIBLE
Paying for Costs of Aerial
Losses to u. S. i'm the
Last War

BERLIN, Aug. 5-Facing the
fact that memories of the R-38
and Roma disasters still are fresh
ly in mind throughout the world,
Germany's builders of the new
Zeppelin intended for commercial
use in the United States are pre-
pared to exhaust every resource
at their command in producing the
'last word" in aircraft. The Zep-
pelin company stands ready to
"stake its reputation 'on the pro-
ject, according to an American Of
fetal who has figured prominent
ly in the negotiations for the con-
tract recently signed here.
This official pointed out, how
ever, that the undertaking strikes
no awe in the hearts Of the con-
structors since they already have
built larger ships than that now
under contract. In fact, he said,
they are equipped to produce
Zeppelin of 100000 or even 1885,
600 cubic meters, as compared
with the ship of 10000 which
they have agreed to build for Am
erica.
Yet the builders recognize the
possibility of clements hitherto
uncomfortable entering into con-
struction of this nature, it is said,
and will endeavor to profit by
careful study of the fate which
befell the two giant airships pro
duced for the United States the
past two years in England and
Italy. Particular attention will be
devoted to the question of the
manifold stresses to which an air.
ship is subject. This problem in
wolves multitudinous technicali-
ties as to design and the extreme
testing of material. In these de-
partments, it is felt in American'I
circles here, the Germans have
reached an outstandin gstage of
advance.
Reception of the ship having
been delegated to the naval de-
partment of the United States, its
design will be submitted to that
division of the government for APP
proval. In addition, an officer of
the department will be present at
Friedrichhafen as an inspector
throughout the Zeppelin's con-
struction. This duty has been as
signed to First Lieut.. Garland Full
ton, U. S. n. who is here in con-
nection with the contract. First
Lieutenant r. G. Pennhoyer, U.
S N, also has been in Berlin dur
ing the negotiations, both of these
officers having been on duty in
connection with the R-38.
1t is estimated that Is months
will be required for construction Of
the ship. No specific time of de
livery has been fixed, this being
dependent upon a number of con
tingencies, not the least of which
are the weather conditions. The
Zeppelin probably will be com
pleted by next fall, making it like
ly that delivery will follow dur
ing the ensuing summer. Lake
hurst, N. j., has been selected as
the place of delivery.
The contract provides that the
ship will fly TO the United States
entirely under German responsible
lily and manned by German
crew. 1t has not yet been decid-
ed, at this early stage of the pro-
ject, whether any American per
sonnet will accompany the Ger
man on their transatlantic flight.
The new Zeppelin will require
a crew of about the same number
as that which manned the R-38.
In this connection it is pointed out
here that a large part of the
United States naval departments
air personnel was lost in the ac-
cident to the R-3S while the Roma
disaster proved a similar loss to
the armys air forces. Thus Am
erican manning of the new ship
will entail training of an almost
entirely new crew.
No provision has been made in
the contract for the United States
to share in the monetary loss,
should an accident occur to The
ship before delivery. Since the
Zeppelin takes the place of costs |
due the United States in ocnse-
quence of aerial losses in the war, !
it is noted, the fixed amount re-
mains due until such time as the |
ship is actually turned over to the !