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have not been ignored; as related in another chapter。  They have

been fostered upon a smaller but equally effective scale。  The

semi…rigid Parseval and Gross craft have met with whole…hearted

support; since they have established their value as vessels of

the air; which is tantamount to the acceptance of their military

value。



The Parseval is pronounced by experts to be the finest expression

of aeronautical engineering so far as Teuton effort is concerned。 

Certainly it has placed many notable flights to its credit。  The

Gross airship is an equally serviceable craft; its lines of

design and construction closely following those of the early

French supple airships。  There are several other craft which have

become more or less recognised by the German nation as

substantial units of war; such as the Ruthemberg;

Siemens…Schukert; and so forth; all of which have proved their

serviceability more or less conclusively。  But in the somewhat

constricted Teuton mind the Zeppelin and the Zeppelin only

represents the ultima Thule of aerial navigation and the means

for asserting the universal character of Pan…Germanism as well as

〃Kultur。〃







CHAPTER IV

AIRSHIPS OF WAR



So much has been said and written concerning the Zeppelin

airship; particularly in its military aspect; that all other

developments in this field have sunk into insignificance so far

as the general public is concerned。  The Zeppelin dirigible has

come to be generally regarded as the one and only form of

practical lighter…than…air type of aircraft。  Moreover; the name

has been driven home with such effect that it is regarded as the

generic term for all German airships。



These are grievous fallacies。  The Zeppelin is merely one of a

variety of types; even in Germany; although at the moment it

probably ranks as the solitary survivor of the rigid system of

construction。  At one time; owing to the earnestness with which

the advantages of this form of design were discussed; and in view

of the fact that the Zeppelin certainly appeared to triumph when

all other designs failed; Great Britain was tempted to embrace

the rigid form of construction。  The building of an immense

vessel of this class was actively supported and it was aptly

christened the 〃May…fly。〃  Opponents of the movement tempered

their emphatic condemnatory criticism so far as to remark that it

MAY FLY; but as events proved it never did。  The colossal craft

broke its back before it ever ventured into the air; and this

solitary experience proving so disastrous; the rigid form of

construction was abandoned once and for all。  The venture was not

in vain; it brought home to the British authorities more

convincingly than anything else that the Zeppelin was a

mechanical monstrosity。  The French never even contemplated the

construction of such a craft at that time; estimating it at its

true value; and the British failure certainly served to support

French antagonism to the idea。  Subsequently; however; an attempt

at rigid construction was made in France with the 〃Spiess〃

airship; mainly as a concession to public clamour。



Even in Germany itself the defects of the Zeppelin were

recognised and a decided effort to eliminate them was made by

Professor Schutte in co…operation with a manufacturer of

Mannheim named Lanz。  The joint product of their ambitions; the

Schutte…Lanz; is declared to be superior to the Zeppelin; but so

far it has failed to justify any of the claims of its designers。 

This vessel; which also favours the colossal; is likewise of the

rigid type; but realising the inherent dangers accruing from the

employment of metal for the framework; its constructors have used

wood; reinforced and strengthened where necessary by metallic

angle…iron; plates; and bracing; this utilisation of metal is;

however; carried out very sparingly。  The first vessel of this

class was a huge failure; while subsequent craft have not proved

much more successful。



In fact; one of the largest German airships ever designed; L4;

is; or rather was; a Schutte…Lanz; with a capacity of 918;000

cubic feet; but over 6;000 pounds lighter than a Zeppelin of

almost similar dimensions。  I say 〃was〃 since L4 is no more。  The

pride of its creators evinced a stronger preference for Davy

Jones' Locker than its designed realm。  Yet several craft of this

type have been built and have been mistaken for Zeppelins owing

to the similarity of the broad principles of design and their

huge dimensions。  In one vital respect they are decidedly

inferior to their contemporarythey are not so speedy。



The most successful of the German lighter…than…air machines are

those known respectively as the semi rigid and non…rigid types;

the best examples of which are the Gross and Parseval craft。 

Virtually they are Teutonic editions of the successful French

craft of identical design by which they were anticipated。  The

Lebaudy is possibly the most famous of the French efforts in this

direction。  The gas…bag has an asymmetrical shape; and is pointed

at both ends; although the prow is blunter or rounder than the

stem。  The gas…bag comprises a single chamber for the inflating

agent; the distended shape of the envelope being sustained by

means of an air…ballonet。  By varying the contents of the latter

through the agency of a pump the tension of the gas in the

lifting envelope can be maintained; and the shape of the inflated

balloon preserved under all conditions。



Beneath the gas…bag is a long strengthened girder; and from this

in turn the car is suspended。  It is the introduction of this

rigid girder which is responsible for the descriptive generic

term of 〃semi…rigid。〃  On the other hand the 〃non…rigid〃 type may

be roughly described as a pisciform balloon fitted with

propelling machinery; inasmuch as the car containing the driving

machinery is suspended from the balloon in the manner of the car

in the ordinary drifting vessel。  So far as the French effort is

concerned the Bayard…Clement type is the best example of the

non…rigid system; it is represented in Germany by the Parseval

class。



The Gross airship has been definitely adopted as a military

machine by the German authorities; and figures in the 〃M〃 class。 

The 〃M…IV〃 completed in 1913 is the largest of this type; and

differs from its prototypes in that it carries two cars; each

fitted with motors; whereas the earlier machines were equipped

with a single gondola after the French pattern。  This vessel

measures 320 feet in length; has a maximum diameter of 44 1/2

feet; displaces 13 tons; and is fitted with motors developing 450

horse…power; which is sufficient to give it a speed of 47 miles

per hour。  This vessel represents a huge advance upon its

predecessors of this design; inasmuch as thelatter were about 245

feet in length by 36 1/4 feet in diameter; and displaced only six

tons; while the single car was provided with a motor developing

only 150 horse…power; the speed being 28 miles per hour。  Thus it

will be seen that a huge development has suddenly taken place; a

result due no doubt to the co…operation of the well…known

engineer Basenach。  The 〃M…IV〃 is essentially an experiment and

great secrecy has been maintained in regard to the trials which

have been carried out therewith; the authorities merely

vouchsafing the fact that the airship has proved completely

successful in every respect; conclusive testimony of this is

offered by the inclusion of the vessel in the active aerial fleet

of Germany。



But it is the Parseval which is regarded as the finest type of

airship flying the German flag。  This vessel is the product of

slow evolution; for it is admitted to be a power…driven balloon。 

Even the broad lines of the latter are preserved; the shape being

that of a cylinder with rounded ends。  It is the direct outcome

of the 〃Drachen…Balloon;〃 perfected by Parseval and Siegsfeld;

the captive balloon which is an indispensable part of the German

military equipment。



The complete success of the suspension system in this captive

balloon prompted Parseval to continue his researches and

experiments in regard to the application of power to the vessel;

so as to induce it to move independently of the wind。  The

suspension system and the car are the outstanding features of the

craft。  It is non…rigid in the strictest interpretation of the

term; although; owing to the incorporation of the steadying

hollow 〃mattress〃 (as it is called by its inventor); the strength

of the suspension system; and the substantial character of the

car; it conveys an impression of great solidity。  The thinnest

rope; both manilla and steel; in the suspension system is as

thick as a man's finger; while the car; measuring 30 feet in

length by 6 feet in width; carried out in wood; is a striking

example of the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight;

being as steady and as solid as a boat's deck。  The propel

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