THE MODERN AIRSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2289, 7 September 1908, Page 1

THE MODERN AIRSHIP.

ITS UTILITY, DURING WAR

Some of tho London newspapers have boon commenting in an alarmist tone on the failure of Britain to keep "pace with Germany and other nations in the construction of military airships. But men w'oso trade is war arc by no means unanimous in regarding the airship menace is a serious one. Colonel I’orcelli, who has had long experience is an odicer of Engineers, dismisses the talk of the “conquest of tho air” as foolish nonsense. Ho says that no airship or balloon has been constructed or can be constructed by the wit of man that is not wholly dependent on atmospheric influences, water, wind, clouds and fog.. The Nulli Secundus was destroyed by a gale of wind and a shove* of rain. La Batrie, ti e great French dirigible balloon, was list m a gaJo. Even in tho clear, sunny air of Switzerland, Count Zeppelin has had many mishaps with ibis ausb.p. Colonel l’orcelli quotes lum tho newspapers to show that Count Zeppelin’s experiments were cousiaucly being delayed and interrupteei hy Lad weather. Finally, after a promising voyage, the Count’s sli p was hope'e-t ?- ly wrecked because it was caught in a thunderstorm. The disaster was clue, it seems, to rain and wind, not to lightning. “As a soldier,” says Colonel Porcelli, “nothing would bo moro agreeable to me than the defence of this country from an army of airships; for nothing would bo more certain than their easy destruction. I cannot conceivo a more; insane idea than that of airships filled with men and explosives attempting to invade this country of fogs, rain, and storms.” At tho same time no one supposes that tho experiments will be resultless. Tho navigation of tho air has made enormous progress during the past few years, and dirigible balloons or aeroplanes may yet be constructed to stand the blinetings of tho tempests. At .any rate, Britain is not entirely neglecting the subject. A successor to the Mulli Secundus has been constructed, anel will doubtless be tried over an extended area of country during the next few months.