TO THE POLE BY AIRSHIP

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 552, 6 July 1909, Page 5

TO THE POLE BY AIRSHIP

, y j ~ y GERMAN PROJECT, HEADED BY COUNT ZEPPELIN. (By Telegraph,—Press Association-Copyright) ■ ' i , Berlin, July 4. Tho Kaiser has given his patronage to an airship expedition, headed by Connt Zeppelin awl Professor Hergesell.-to explore the North Polar regions in 1910. Tho west coast of Spitzborgen has been chosen as the base of operations. • There are strong hopes that the expedition will succeed in reaching pho Pole. ' ', A JOURNEY OF W MILES, CHANCES OF ZEPPELIN AND WELLMAN. Now that an Aroilc storm has | wrecked Mr. Wellman's Bhed, and apparently postponed, sine die/his projected trip from Spitsbergen to the Pole-rand back again—Count Zeppelin and his , great colleague Professor'Eorgesell propose to launch on the undertaking. There is little (jpubt that Zeppelin's latest type of rigid dirigible airship is muoh more likely to be able to perform the feat than is Mr. Wellman's nonrigid "America*." > 1 The distance to be travelled from 'Spitsbergen to the Pole Is 7flo'miles. so, adding the return journey, the distance to be covered is 1100 miles. Recently the Zeppelin made a non-stop run of ' 300 miles in 22 hours j in runs with stoppages it has covered a much greater distance—according to the cablegram 900 miles in 38 But in the Far North there will be no replenishment I of supplies, no certainty of a suitable stopping place, and no protection against Arotio blizzanb. ,' , , ■„ The Fuel Factor. - "' ', As to motive power, it has been pointed out that fuel may be saved by allowing the airship to 'drift with every favourable broea> in the manner', of an'ordinary balloon.' Count de la "Vaulx has travelled pjer 1200 miles across Europe in a balloon in this manner; but drifting across Europe is one thing, and a journey to the Pole and back again to a definite base is quite another.' The Element of Speed, ' A writer in ("Tho Tiines" » of opinion that Mr. Wollman would have very little chance of reaching tho Pole in his "America"—which is, "as regards the gas-bag, a very ordinary typo ,of non-ngid airinip ... not at all well ' adapted for rough weather. Mr. Wellman estimates that his speed will be about 18 miles an hoar, but with a full load it will be very much under that figure, and tho writer believes that even. 20 miles an hour is far too slow a speed for a ship attempting such a long and hazardous journey as a trip to the Pole," The Zeppelin, it is to bo noted, has shown speeds of' 20 to 30 miles an hour, The writer adds:— "Speed is ono of the most essential factors in securing the safety of the airship. The lower the speed the greater risk a vessel runs other things being equal. If a ship has but a maximum speed'.of 20 miles an hour it cannot make direct headway against a wind of 21 miles an hour. A wind of of 30 miles an hour would be distinctly dangerous if blowing against a 20-mlle-an-hour ship, since, aS well as blqwipg it backwards, }t would probably buffet it, tend to swing it round broadside, and even lead up to the danger of the npn-rigid gas envelope or bending under the great strain. This would spell disaster, and as only 18 miles an hour are claimed for the Wollman—whioh estimate is probably t too high—it is evident that the ship will run serious risks in winds which a faster ship could cope with easily. fliajd.Typ«. Preferred. "Again) a ship driven by a petrol motor which can only give a, speed of 18 miles an hour cannot keep up this maximum spaed long for fear of overheating 'the engine. But if a persistent wind of IS miles an hour sprang up against the ship, this maximum speed would have to be' maintained as long as possible, or else the ship would run tho danger of being driven back, Or swept out of its course.'. An airship with a rigid envelope like the Zeppohn would incur legs danger from excessive wind pressuro." >' ' After admitting the valuo of the "America's" - naval trail-ropes, tho writer proceeds:— •■ "Many, other conditions peculiar to Arctic, regions must bo considered. Snow or sleet showers)might throw such a dead weight of frozen material on tho gas onvolope as to sink it low in the air and impede progress. Tho | severe cold may seriously interfere with the carburetter of $he engine, and freeing troubles with tho water circulation will have to be coped with. Even in our own climate the petrol engine develops various troubles in cold weather. ' A "Sporting Chance." i "Eeviewjng tho known difficulties and risks . of a HOO-milos journey wiMi the fastest and most up-to-date rigid airship, and then considering Mr. Wellman's prospects with an older and much slower ship in the Arctic regions, it can hardly be said that there is much possibility of his succeeding, In fact, he has barely a 'sporting, ohance,' and ho would be well* advised to wait until further experience had been gained in Eurppe in long-distance airship work, 'Indeed, it might be said that to have any reasonable hope of success he should have a somi-rigid or -rigid ship, much moro powert fully engmed, with a duplicate motor in reserve, and capable Of giving over 30 miles an hour average speed for many hours, "But it cannot be said that there is no chance of success at all, e\en with the present!vessel; Mr.-Wellman ami hi-' assistants have done their utmost to inoreaso tho slender margin of safety which exists; and although;no has adopted an imperfect instrument, Mr. Wellinan,' with his ' inowlodgo of the Arctic "regions, with his wellplanned supply system, :his.skilled helpers, his tepms of dog?, anil his grand daring, may sue? coed, as ho thoroughly deserves'to' do." ,