Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. MARCH 13, 1917 THE ZEPPELIN FAILURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. MARCH 13, 1917 THE ZEPPELIN FAILURE.

Thb circumstances which appear to aurronpd the death of Count Zeppelin are interesting because of the part this worthy played in the war. He was the inventor and creator- of the mighty air machines to carry men and matter to all heights and on long aerial voyages. These giant air-ships were presupposed to be of commercial design, but the outbreak of war soon disclosed their real mission. The Zeppelin was designed in reality as an engine of destruction to be need against the enemy. Count Zeppelin received great honors in his own land for his invention, and the wonderful lengths he went in the way of aerial development. When he was able to fly across Lake CoDßtance in the initial stages of his discovery, it could well be imagined that he and those associated with him, saw visions of a flight across the English Channel, with all the possibilities of the consequences in train. Truly, these folk built castles in the air. The Count is dead now, and a talkative female relative gives it as her opinion that tho sudden death of her nnole was due to chagrin at the failure of his balloons, which bad not accomplished ail the purposes intended by their invention. This is a very frank confession, for following comes the evidence of a letter from the late Count wherein ha lately expressed his regret that his balloons had not been more effective over the British cities. The announcement, not only reveals the intent and purpose of the invention, but it seals the fate of the Zeppelins as an engine of war. When these engines of destruction appeared over England they appeared capable of wreaking great damage, bnt the courage and resouroe of British airmen soon arrested the danger, and in the near end stifled it. There was a quiok development iu anti aircraft guns and a sudden expansion of the British air servioe, enabling a machine to be created which coaid monnt more quickly and was less unwie’dy than the Zeppelin, By

these measures was a serious menace Dvercomo, and the visits of Zeppelins became rather objects of sport for the intrepid British airmen than serious fighting machines. A curious and nnfrightened British publio t<--nk a delight in watching these air combats, bo that when the winged or flaming Zeppelin fell they could be at the spot to recover trophies of an enemy failure. The chagrin o' th 9 inventive Count who was at the outset, so highly honored by the Kaiser and the German nation, who understood the real mission of theZippelin, can well be understood. WhiJp, therefore, the pessimists on the British side are ell too prone to bemoan certain episodes of the war, let them recall that all the failures and shortcomings are not with the Allies ouly. The enemy have many mistakes aud mjaca'culations also to account for, and like the Zeppelin failure it can well be understood they are having a heart breaking effect on the enemy.