THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 539, 5 February 1913, Page 7

THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

By the appointment of a permanent committee of eminent naval, military, and scientific men for the organisation of the aerial defences of the country, the Government have taken a big step towards placing England on a more satisfactory footing in regard to the subject of a.rial navigation, and the Prime Minister has announced that a considerable sum of money will be set aside for the purpose of devising and constructing dirigible airships and aeroplanes, which work will be apportioned between the Navy and the Army. The Admiralty will build certain dirigibles while others of a different type will be constructed by the War Office. Balloons will be made at the War Office Balloon Factory at Aldershot, which is about to bo reorganised for the parpose. The investigation and provision of aeroplanes are also assigned to the War Office, with a view to securing that the highest scientific talent shall be brought to bear on the problem. The fight for the conquest of the air is proceeding even more rapidly in Germany, where it is proposed to establish a passenger service by airship, and the townships of Cologne and Dusseldorf have already promised to support such a scheme with contributions of £25,000 each. The idea, which was announced in a lecture at Strasburg by Herr Colsman, director of the company which constructs Zeppelin airships, is not at present to establish traffic lines properly speaking, but to arrange tourist trips at regular intervals, it being reckoned that trips could be ma:le 300 days in the year. By the suing of 1910 two airships now build'ng will be finished, and two more will probably be constructed by May of that year. A crew of five or six hands would be necessary for an airship of this type, so that twenty passengers could be taken, and journeys of six to seven hours might be made. The principal line planned is from Dusseldorf to Lucerne. Two airshirs will carry on this service, and a third is intended for use in circling round the Rigi mountain. Among the plans under consideration are lines ending at Municb and Berlin respectively. The total cost of the undertaking, with three airships ma-ing together 600 trips a year, inclusive of wages of crews and amortisation charges, is estimated at 1,700,000 marks (£85,000). The weak spot in the scheme is the question whether sufficient passengers will be found to cover expenses. With regard to the Wellman Polar. Expedition, Mr. Walter Wellman left Paris recently with his motor-balloon "America" for Spitzbergen, where the trials will be completed, preliminary to a dash being made for the Pole. Mr. Wellman, in an interview, stated that the distance of the Pole from Danes Island was about 700 statute miles, and that he expects to make the return journey in three days. . The "America" is fitted with two complete motor systems, increasing her speed, if both are used together, but still leaving her effective if one should be put out of action. She will, carry ten Esquimaux dogs, three sledges, and a small boat. The crew can at any time convert themselves into a fully-equipped sledge party. They can make a hut, and have provisions enough to enable them to winteF and return the following spring. Mr. Wellman, however, hopes to reach his destination, and return without having recourse to sledges, with which the expedition is qnly equipped as a precautionary measure.