THE CONTINENTAL AIR FLEETS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 277, 20 November 1914, Page 4

THE CONTINENTAL AIR FLEETS.

Discussing the relative aerial strength of the Continental belligerents, the Chicago “Aero and Hydro” says: “Numerically,' France and Russia combined are stronger aerially than Austria and 'Germany united. France is undoubt-, edly supreme as far as her numerical strength with land machines is I concerned. She could, within a few months, add to her present quota of 745 land machines 250 to 400 others and the pilots to man them. Russia’s present equipment of 080 land machines could not be increased by privately-owned ’planes, as aeroplane ownership in Russia is a Government monopoly. Germany could add 200 machines and pilots to her total of 540 land machines within a very short time; but little increase could be made in Austria’s 130, The total strength of France, Russia, and Serein combined, in land machines, is at present 1443. Germany’s and AusI tria’s total is loss than one-half as great—67o. It must be borne in mind that these figures include all flyable machines owned by the Governments. Many of them are old re-built machines that were new from three to four years ago, but they are none the less serviceable for some purpose. There are more old machines in the French equipment than in any of the other countries, Russia’s equipment being the newest. Germany’s dirigible strength is the greatest, and Austria’s is very i important. Ton Zeppelins were recently ordered by the latter country, but have not yet been delivered. Combined, the dirigibles forces of Germany and Austria total at least 26. These include two Zeppelins in Austria and eight in Germany, varying in cubic-meter capacity from 17,700 to 22.000. France has an excellent fleet of dirigibles, however; some of them are exceedingly fast, and, besides holding the dirigible speed record, French military dirigibles j hold the world’s duration record—3s I hours 19 minutes. This record was recently made by the 9000 cubicmeter L’Adjutant Yincenot, breaking the record of 34 hours 59 minutes previously held by a Zeppelin of 22,000 cubic-meter capacity. But France lacks the weight-carrying dirigibles of Germany, having but one of the Zeppelin type—the Sjiess. Russia is equally ill-hq nipped in that particular.”