Evening star., 1926-05-11

strong. When fog is encountered. as
It will be often, it may be necessary
to lift the ship above It, so as 10 pre-
ven. it from being covered TOO tnlck'
ly with a, coating of ice from the mist
which viii condense on the envelope
Nor,yegians Good Pilots.
The Norwegians have proved them
selves very skillful, both at steering
and holding the ship at n determined
level. because nearly all Of them have
been brought up on the water. and
their knowledge of ships and naVlga'
ton gives them an instructive "feel
of the wheel.
Directly in back of the man in
charge OF the elevators are number
Of glass tubes set in brackets, con-
nected by rubber tubing to the bal
loonets above. These tubes are In two
parts. consisting of inner and outer
glass tubes, which by means of indi-
Gators show the amount of gas in the
eight balloonets and the pressure of
the air in the interior air tunnel.
which keeps the balloonets distended
to their utmost.
BY means of the tubes, the pilot
knows at all times what is going on
inside the 350.foot gas bag, and may
=
of the various balloonets.
To Conserve Gas.
The ropes operating the gas valves
at the top of the ship are hooked be-
side the tubes. There are four Of these
ropes, each one operating the valves
on two balloonets. They will be used
mighty sparingly on the trip across.
for the gas will be conserved as much
as possible. in case the ship meets
adverse winds and the fuel gives out
and it is necessary to operate the ship
as free balloon.
And every bit of gas is necessary
to keep the heavy load in the air, al
ened by discarding the fuel tanks dur
ing the voyage.
On the other side of the forward
compartment, at the after-end, are the
telegraphs to the three-motor gondolas,
two on each side amidships and one
at the rear under the keel
The telegraph works exactly as 1t
does on a steamship-stop, slow, half
speed, full speed and even reverse, for
the aft motor has reversing gear for
aid In maneuvering. BY means Of the
telegraph. it is possible for the pilot
to be in instant communication with
the mechanicfans in the gondolas, so
that the whole power plant of the air
ship may be directed as a unit.
The airship carries no water ballast,
but small amount Of water, mixed
with glycerin to prevent it freezing,
was taken along in the ballast tanks
as a reserve for the motors. Gasoline
in tins, which may be thrown over.
board In an emergency, takes the
place of the water ballast.
Chart Table for Air Strategy.
The next compartment to the rear
is the largest. Here is the chart
table, where the observations will be
worked out, and where the meteorolo-
g1st will calculate the weather and
determine what course to take to find
the most favorable winds and at what
height the best conditions will be en-
1t is possible. If a storm comes up
or Is seen approaching, to calculate
the best way in which to meet it, for.
as storms usually travel in circles
What might be an obstacle might be
turned to advantage by skill and
maneuvering.
AS Tor the observations, they will
be so many and varied that considr
cradle mathematical work will be done
on that table, and the expedition is
fortunate in having not only several
sklllful naVigatorS, but also an expert
mathematician in the person of
Comdr. Berger Gottwaldt. a wireless
expert Of the Norwegian navy.
The sides of this compartment. as Of
all the others, are of glass from a
distance of about 3 feet from the
floor or deck. The doors by which the
ship Is entered are also here.
And sticking out from each side are
large globular windows, like those ON
the deck Of Capt. Nemo's famous sub
so that no matter what the
weather. no matter how cold it is or
what wind is blowing, those inside
may look down from the ship in per-
pendicular line.
At the right side of the compart-
ment are two airplane compasses,
which look something like speedom-
eters. 1t is in this compartment also
that the greatest amount of stores Is
packed. and in which the men can
move about or even lie down, for 1t is
difficult to find a space to stretch out
at full length on the Norge. Men will
sleep only when they can no longer
stay awake.
hOACSo ANOVhh compact
The next compartment is given up
almost entirely to the wireless sets, ex-
cept for a. tiny aisle along the side
leading to the steel ladder that goes
up into the keel. The sets are erected
in an amazingly small space, in a
room built of beaverboard.
Just in back Of this room is the gen.
orator to supply electric power. oper-
ated by a tiny propeller sticking out
from the side of the ship, which can
be folded down and made to lie still
when it is not needed.
Through the tiny aisle at the side
of the wireless room one walks g. few
feet aft to where a ladder, less than
a foot wide, reaches up to the interior
of the keel. 1t is not more than six
feet long. this ladder, and as one
mounts it the interior Of the long ship
is opened up.
One looks forward and aft through
a triangular tunnel, wide at the top
and narrowing to a mere footpath at
the bottom, lined on each side with
shining steel fuel tanks, 26 in all, and
overhead the Sagging brown cloth
of the hydrogen balloonets.
In this swaying, undulating space
for the keel wriggles like a worm at
timeS-tWo men are on constant duty.
If they slip and fall sideways from
the catwalk, about a foot wide, there
is nothing between them and the
ground but a thin piece of strong
canvas.
At the top of the ladder, somewhat
over the cabin. but projecting a little
beyond its limits, are the four ham,
mocks in which q few fitful hours Of
slumber may be snatched when the
men are too tired to stay awake any
longer. They do not inspire one with
confidence as beds.
Ship Built Like Watch.
Walking aft long the footpath,
which gives beneath ones weight and
on each section Of which only one
man Is permitted at a time, the
heautN of cnnSt r1lctin ION of the Serni.