aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第10节
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strengthened by a round dozen new dirigibles。 Seven of these
were to be of 20；000 cubic metres' capacity and possessed of a
speed of 47 miles per hour。 While the existing fleet was
numerically strong； this strength was more apparent than real；
for the simple reason that a large number of craft were in
dry…dock undergoing repair or overhaul while many of the units
were merely under test and could not be regarded therefore as in
the effective fleet。 True； there were a certain number of
private craft which were liable to be commandeered when the
occasion arose； but they could not be considered as decided
acquisitions for the simple reason that many were purely
experimental units。
Aerial vessels； like their consorts upon the water； have been
divided into distinctive classes。 Thus there are the aerial
cruisers comprising vessels exceeding 282；000 cubic feet in
capacity； scouts which include those varying between 176；600 and
282；000 cubic feet capacity； and vedettes； which take in all the
small or mosquito craft。 At the end of 1913； France possessed
only four of the first…named craft in actual commission and thus
immediately available for war； these being the Adjutant Vincenot；
Adjutant Reau； Dupuy de Lome； and the Transaerien。 The first
three are of 197；800 cubic feet。 All； however； were privately
owned。
On the other hand； Germany had no fewer than ten huge vessels；
ranging from 353；000 to 776；900 cubic feet capacity； three of
which； the Victoria Luise； Suchard； and Hansa； though owned
privately； were immediately available for war。 Of these the
largest was the Zeppelin naval vessel 〃L…1〃 525 feet in length；
by 50 feet diameter； of 776；900 cubic feet capacity； equipped
with engines developing 510 horse…power； and with a speed of 51。8
miles per hour。
At the end of 1913 the effective aerial fleet of Germany
comprised twenty large craft； so far in advance of the French
aerial cruisers as to be worthy of the name bestowed upon them
〃Aerial Dreadnoughts。〃 This merely represented the fleet
available for immediate use and did not include the four gigantic
Suchard…Schutte craft； each of 847；500 cubic feet； which were
under construction； and which were being hurried forward to come
into commission early in 1914。
But the most interesting factor； apart from the possession of
such a huge fleet of dirigible air…craft； was their distribution
at strategical points throughout the Empire as if in readiness
for the coming combat。 They were literally dotted about the
country。 Adequate harbouring facilities had been provided at
Konigsberg； Berlin； Posen； Breslau； Kiel； Hamburg； Wilhelmshaven；
Dusseldorf； Cologne； Frankfort； Metz； Mannheim； Strasburg； and
other places； with elaborate headquarters； of course； at
Friedrichshafen upon Lake Constance。 The Zeppelin workshops；
harbouring facilities； and testing grounds at the latter point
had undergone complete remodelling； while tools of the latest
type had been provided to facilitate the rapid construction and
overhaul of the monster Zeppelin dirigibles。 Nothing had been
left to chance； not an item was perfunctorily completed。 The
whole organisation was perfect； both in equipment and
operation。 Each of the above stations possessed provision for
an aerial Dreadnought as well as one or more aerial cruisers；
in addition to scouts or vedettes。
Upon the outbreak of hostilities Germany's dirigible fleet was in
a condition of complete preparedness； was better organised； and
better equipped than that of any of her rivals。 At the same time
it constituted more of a paper than a fighting array for reasons
which I will explain later。 But there was another point which
had escaped general observation。 Standardisation of parts and
the installation of the desired machinery had accomplished one
greatly desired endthe construction of new craft had been
accelerated。 Before the war an interesting experiment was
carried out to determine how speedily a vessel could be built。
The result proved that a dirigible of the most powerful type
could be completed within eight weeks and forthwith the various
constructional establishments were brought into line so as to
maintain this rate of building。
The growth of the Zeppelin； although built upon disaster； has
been amazing。 The craft of 1906 had a capacity of 430；000 cubic
feet and a speed of 36 miles per hour。 In 1911 the creator of
this type launched a huge craft having a capacity of 627；000
cubic feet。 In the meantime speed had likewise been augmented by
the use of more powerful motors until 52 miles an hour was
attained。 But this by no means represented the limit。 The
foregoing vessels had been designed for land service purely and
simply； but now the German authorities demanded similar craft for
naval use； possessed of high speed and greater radius of action。
Count Zeppelin rose to the occasion； and on October 7th； 1912；
launched at Friedrichshafen the monster craft 〃L…I；〃 525 feet in
length； 50 feet in diameter； of 776；900 cubic feet capacity； a
displacement of 22 tons and equipped with three sets of motors
aggregating more than 500 horse…power； and capable of imparting a
speed of 52 miles per hour。
The appearance of this craft was hailed with intense delight by
the German nation； while the naval department considered her to
be a wonderful acquisition； especially after the searching
reliability trial。 In charge of Count Zeppelin and manned by a
crew of 22 officers and men together with nearly three tons of
fuelthe fuel capacity conveys some idea of her possible radius
of actionshe travelled from Friedrichshafen to Johannisthal in
32 hours。 On this remarkable journey another point was
established which was of far…reaching significance。 The vessel
was equipped with wireless telegraphy and therewith she kept in
touch with the earth below throughout the journey； dropping and
picking up wireless stations as she progressed with complete
facility。 This was a distinct achievement； inasmuch as the vessel
having been constructed especially for naval operations she would
be able to keep in touch with the warships below； guiding them
unerringly during their movement。
The cross…country trip having proved so completely successful the
authorities were induced to believe that travelling over water
would be equally satisfactory。 Accordingly the 〃L…I〃 was
dispatched to the island of Heligoland； the intention being to
participate in naval manoeuvres in order to provide some reliable
data as to the value of these craft operating in conjunction with
warships。 But in these tests German ambition and pride received
a check。 The huge Zeppelin was manoeuvring over the North Sea
within easy reach of Heligoland； when she was caught by one of
those sudden storms peculiar to that stretch of salt water。 In a
moment she was stricken helpless； her motive power was
overwhelmed by the blind forces of Nature。 The wind caught her
as it would a soap…bubble and hurled her into the sea；
precipitating the most disastrous calamity in the annals of
aeronautics； since not only was the ship lost； but fifteen of her
crew of 22 officers and men were drowned。
The catastrophe created consternation in German aeronautical
circles。 A searching inquiry was held to explain the disaster；
but as usual it failed to yield much material information。 It is
a curious circumstance； but every successive Zeppelin disaster；
and their number is legion； has been attributable to a new cause。
In this instance the accident was additionally disturbing；
inasmuch as the ship had been flying across country continuously
for about twelve months and had covered more miles than any
preceding craft of her type。 No scientific explanation for the
disaster was forthcoming； but the commander of the vessel； who
sank with his ship； had previously ventured his personal opinion
that the vessel was over…loaded to meet the calls of ambition；
was by no means seaworthy； and that sooner or later she would be
caught by a heavy broadside wind and rendered helpless； or that
she would make a headlong dive to destruction。 It is a
significant fact that he never had any faith in the airship； at
least for sea duty； though in response to official command he
carried out his duties faithfully and with a blind resignation to
Fate。
Meantime； owing to the success of the 〃L…I〃 in cross…country
operations； another and more powerful craft； the 〃L…II〃 had been
taken in hand； and this was constructed also for naval use。
While shorter than her consort； being only 487 feet over all；
thisvessel had a greater beam55 feet。 This latter increase was
decided because it was conceded to be an easier matter to provide
for greater beam than enhanced length in the existing air…ship
harbours。 The 〃L…II〃 displaced 27 tonsfive tons in excess of
her predecessor。 In this vessel many innovations were
in
