GERMN AIRSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2265, 26 September 1914, Page 7

GERMN AIRSHIPS

During times of peace there were many scares in England regarding visits of German airships, says an English papet. From time to time mysterious moving lights were seen in the sky. It was declared' that these lights came from Gorman airships, which had been sent to England to test their ability to make tho voyage safely, and to spy out the fortified ports. But there was npver any positive proof that a German airship ever visited England, as there was never any other indication of their presence than the' mysterious lights in the sky. Nothing was ever seen of a- German airship in England ill daylight. But Germany, which Is better equipped with airships than any other nation, lias fifteen airships with a speed of 40 to 50 miles por, hour. One of these- can carry sufficient fuel to remain in the" air for 30 hours at full speed, and five others caii remain in the. air for 20 hours. Thorcforc they are theoretically capable of making a journey of POO to 1000 miles. The distance by air from Cologne to London' is only 300 miles, therefore these airships ought to be able to fly to London and back to Germany.. Thoy would be capable of carrying two to three tons of explosives. But an airship can carry out her destructive work only at night if it is to be done wiEK safety to herself, as in daytimo she will be a prey to 'file faster, aeroplane and will be a targot for high angle gun fire. It will bo "HlFicnlt, for an airship to do much 'damage by dropping bombs owing to the necessity of doing so at night, when accuracy of aim must be largely a matter of accident. But there is little doubt that if Germany should prove successful on land against the French srnd Russians, there will bo visits to Fiiigland from German airships bent ou destructive work. It is believed that in tho early stages of the war Germany will attempt to reduce the British, strength 'in Dreadnoughts and armoured cruisers by using her aircraft to destroy tho British warships. If tho strength of the British fleet can ho offoctively reduced in <his way, the Gorman fleet will go out to meet it. But the British fleet is provided with watnrplaues with, which to fight German ajrshtps, if necessary. Owing to tin difficulty of landing at night tho aeroplane, which has to come down on land, cannot be flown at night, without grave risk on the part of the pilot, but the risk is not so pronounced in the case of tho water-plane, which, can float on wate*.