"MISTRESS OF THE AIR."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 726, 27 January 1910, Page 6

"MISTRESS OF THE AIR."

FRUITS: OF GERMAN ZEAL.

.; .'After' long remaining, sceptical concerning the importance of Germany's aeronautic fleet, the; French are now becomini' alarmed; at what -16 considered an important:, advantage . on'-'the German 'side '■ beyeral; newspapers take;it -upon themselves to show how greatly the balance of' power in the matter of 'steerable balloonsrests with Germany. >;■ The discovery is causing all the greater/alarm as France nas generally considered herself asnatur-' ally'.'.predominant in -aeronautics ever since the «arjy days of :M.: Santos-Du-montV experimehte. with' steerable balloons., .Two -reasons are given for the' euperiority :of Germany :-(l) Greater proquctive power; ■ (2) more important- finan-' oial aid from the,. State.. That Germany* possesses, superiority in the- first' respect' has been as much a'surprise as'was the discovery in England that Germany could rival or '.outrival Great Britain in the' rapid.construction of Dreadnoughts. > Aβ for , the second point of superiority, some", consolation is ■to be found; in. the faot. that-France has done so much with' purely . private money. Now., that large publio'subscriptions are. to be. disposed of, and the ; State has taken active interest through, the Department of. Publib Works, there seems no reason why France should '.not regain a great deal ■ of lost, ground; ■If 'this is to , - be' so (i the revelations by M. '.Ca'pazza and others concerning. what Germany, has: done, and is doing, can .only ■ have .a, useful effect. ..-M. Capazza's outspoken dictum that. Germany r is > the "mistress'of the air" is based upon his close observation of German methods , and /thoroughness.; ' ' ' .' : . ; V ' .:', :. "Setting . but 'with nothing -in hand," ■says. M.. Capazza, -''Germany," by ' her strength of has.'now come te dominate the' , 'world "in' "aeronautic' na vigatioiiV The . Germane .have brought'■• out .three' ■types of balloons which are as perfect as have yef been made in their; time. Whilst •;the Government were' having., steerable balloons of. the Grose' , type* constructed, 1 industry.; Was workihg/on .other kinds of 'balloons, the Government .organised the victory of;these undertakings.. In.the.first place , they, comman-' •deered the:supply,of,.pure hydrogen. • ;At one, of the..chemical- works 15,000 bottles :are deposited, and;.two trains, charged! with bottles all :connected to a common : feed pipe stand ready to be diepatched to. any point where they in ay be' needed. Orders are given so. that, the .trucks: maybe attached , to; no matter what '.'train','.including: the Emperor's own .private train ,if thpusfht necessary. At. the same time, large 'sheds, -twice as laTge .as. any "construction in France, grew up in six weeks: at, Cologne,' Metz, 'and other <■ places. Ge'r-: man pilots do what we never dare to at;tempt. They set out, keeping.'close to ■ the earth , at-night in'a fog, and. when it is raining they go. the'longest possible , i distance,-return, and then; set'but again.: This assurance,: -this; admirable . bravery antl Endurance, are the result of. an orsa;nisation which provides., help .'and'. Telief. .. at any part, where the balloon may have to come to earth." •;-. . ' .'; . '■'