KAISER'S ADVENTURE IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 13

KAISER'S ADVENTURE IN THE AIR

ZEPPELIN JUST ESCAPED - DISASTER. The "Bourse Gazette" contains an interesting and circumstantial account, which is quoted by the Petrograd correspondent of the "Morning Post," of a flight in a Zeppelin which nearly cost the Emperor William his life. It has teen. officially denied in Germany that His Majesty was - aboard' the ill-fated Zeppelin, but the crew and officers were especially rewarded, according to the "Kriegszeitung," for "saving tho Emperor's life during a flight at tlie front." The Zeppelin -was "No. 18," and sleeping, working, and reception rooms had • been specially fitted for His Majesty. Most of the details have Deen obtained from intercepted lotters, from which the "Bourse Gazette" correspondent pieces together the following story. Tho Zeppelin in question was the flagship of the first light squadron of airship "Dreadnought" cruisers. •, Tho Observation cabin was fitted in the floor with a window constructed on the principle of binoculars magnifying seventeen times and measuring over a yard across. Among the other novelties wero special parachutes to serve the purposo of lifebelts at sea in case of extremity. The Emperor wore pilot's kit. After several postponements, this important flight of the Emperor, was finally fixed for a day oil which drizzling rain fell. Tlie Zeppelin (prickly rose above the clouds into brilliant autumn sunshine, and landed quite regularly at Warsaw, where it was mot by an Austrian Archduke and a guard of honour. The Emperor emerged, watch in hand, bidding those present to note how precisely punctual was the airship's arrival. Half an hour later the trip was resumed, apparently towards the fighting front of the German armies. It was now that things began to go wrong. Tho engines stopped, and mechanics hastened along the corridors and climbed outside ladders. The Emperor was told that an accident, common enough with Zeppelins, had happened, namely, that one of the screws- had broken and was tearing into the aluminium envelope and causing a wastage of gas. This screw was to be changed whilst moving, and, after it had been isolated, tlie engines started again for home. Spare screws are always carried. Nevertheless, the. repairs seemed to be inadequate, and the loss of buoyancy increased beyond normal limits. The airship began to list heavily, and a parachute was prepared, for His Majesty's use. Tho commander of the airship telegraphed to earth, ami the whole countryside was quickly aroused, cavalry and motors flying in all directions in obedience to the notification to prepare for a descent at any moment and anywhere. The engines were stopped and everything having height was flung overboard, even tho officers' swords being jettisoned. But the huge machine continucd to fall until, by a great stroke of luck, its anchor caught somo trees, and the airship reached the ground without actual_ disaster. Apart from official ro cognition by orders and medals, every officer and man concerned received special rewards from the German Emperor personally, and tho intercepted letters of pilots contain details of these awards.