The Glenwood post., 1924-10-09
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For several months the children had
been reading Of the progress Of the
sround-the world Aysrs, and had heard
their Uncle Ted tell Of seeing the
"air Magenans," ~ they were called,
land at the national capital in the
course of their final flight across the
the country. They had heard Of the
wonderful reception of the airmen on
the Pacific coast an they completed
their world circuit, and were. waiting
to ask their uncle what the flyers
were going to do now that their won
derful flight had been completed.
Uncle Ted had chance to answer
the children's questions after they
had settled themselves for their after
dinner story. "What these airmen
want more than anything else," said
he, "is long rest where they will
never see nor hear of an airplaine for
long time. They are worn out after
more than six months of all sorts Of
dangers and nerve racking experiences.
guess the government realizes their
need for vacation, and. will grant
their wish. Meanwhile want to tell
you of another sort of airship about
which we are going to hear a great
deal in the futnre
"You have both heard of the Shen-
andoah, that great cigar-shaped bal
loon which the government built in
New Jersey, and which has its home
at Lakehurst in that state. 1t is
called dirigible, because, unlike other
kinds of balloons, it can be sent
through the air with the speed of the
fastest express train and steered
wherever its captain wants it to go.
The Shenandoah belongs to the navy,
and during the summer it has been
used with our battleships as a scout.
It sailed more than 500 miles out to
sea, as if looking for fleet of enemy
ships trying to attack our coasts. All
the time it kept in touch with our own
ships through its radio, and kept them
informed of everything it saw ap-
preaching our shores. You can imag-
inc what small chance an enemy
fleet would have of reaching this
country for surprise attack when a
great airship like the Shenandoah was
spying upon them all the time from
thousands of feet in the air.
"Since its scouting practice, the
Shenandoah has had a new coat Of
silk put under her, the old one being
30 worn that gas was beginning to
leak through it. That was to make
her ready for her cross-country flight
that marks another big chapter in hez
career. 1t will end near Seattle
Washington, where a special mooring
mast has been erected to care for he,
while on the Pacific coast.
"While the Shenandoah is resting
at Seattle we can turn our attention to
another big airship that is very much
like her. After the war Germany
agreed to make and give to US, free
of cost, a big airship like the Zeppe
Inns she had used to drop bombs OF
London and other cities. But the new
one was to contain all sorts of i'm
provements that the war experiences
had suggested. For many months the
Germans have been at work on tina,
new ship, which is called the ZR-3
and it is now done and about ready te
be brought to us across the ocean. Sh,
has been sent out ON trial flights ovel
Germany, and appears to be a great
success.
"The ZR-3 is a little larger thar
the Shenandoah, but not quite &C
long. On her trip across the, Atlantic
she will probably be filled with hydro
gen, that dangerous gas that explodes
SO easily and has caused so many hor
rible accidents to balloons and dirigi
bles. But when the new airship reaches
the United States she will be filled
with helium, like the Shenandoah
Helium will not burn or explode. II
is about Is per cent heavier than ny
drogen, but the additional safety from
its use more than makes up for its
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