A MYSTERIOUS AIRSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 36, 5 August 1911, Page 10

A MYSTERIOUS AIRSHIP.

LAUNCH OF BRITAIN'S LATEST. The special correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph thus describes the launching of Britain's naval airship, whose construction and design has been strictly secret, and whose launch has been long and anxiously waited for: "In perfectly ideal weather, with scarcely a breath of wind to disturb the placid surface of the water, the naval airship was towed out of the shed she had so long occupied about 4 o'clock in the morning. There was AN UTTER ABSENCE OF EXCITEMENT, and the whole of the proceedings might have been practised for months, so successfully were they carried out. Throughout a whole day the special staff of sailors and marines from the tender, his Majesty's ship Hermoine, had been hard at work clearing the staging and making everything in readiness. It was not until 8 o'clock at night that Captain Sueter decided to postpone the launch owing to the stiff breeze which was blowing. The huge crowds were vastly disappointed. Still the staff worked until late, and the first orders given out were to the effect that the men should be called at 3.30 a.m.

"So favorably did the weather shape during the night that the men were summoned at 1.45 a.m., and shortly after 2 o'clock they marched back to the shed, carrying their shoes under" their arms. From this time until shortly before 4 o'clock the men were busy inside. Boat parties took up their stations in the dock, and the long rope was brought from the mooring to the shed. Just on 4 o'clock out came a boat manned by marines, and they fixed a rope to the buoy, which was placed in a centre line to the shed. This rope was paid out until the other end was given to the crew on the dirigible. Then the bugle sounded, and men were seen running about at the entrance. The gates had been opened, the' "call" was repeated, and at six minutes past four the order was given to heave on the rope. All eyes were now focussed on the huge airship, and she was seen to be moving. At ten minutes past four the stern of the vessel was just outside the entrance, and ten minutes afterwards the entire fabric had emerged. The handling by the staff was magnificent. Not a foot did the craft deviate from the centre line. It was a perfect example of drill organisation, and I have, in fact, seen a steamer entering a dock cause considerably more trouble and excite-, ment.

It was our first view of the vessel of which so much has been said and written. Perfectly rigid, a silver-grey in color, she presented a noble sight. So well had the framework been covered that it looked as if it had been stretched on the frame. One got a glimpse of the intricate machinery in the gondolas. Everything seems to have been arranged by a master mind, and simplicity and lightness, combined with strength, ftppear to have been the main consideration.

"No sooner was the vessel clear at her bow than the men on the rafts commenced to turn her nose outwards. Silently she glided out, the rope which was connected, with the moorings in the centre dock was made fast, and gradually the airship headed for the middle. It was then, with the golden sunlight striking her sides, that one realised her size. There was no swaying movement about the bag itself—the vessel just moved steadily towards her moorings, majestically and quietly. Then came a fussy pinnace, which made fast, and when halfway across one heard the order to start the forward engine. Shortly after this was done the two propellers were connected up and began to revolve rapidly. One could notice the effect almost immediately, for she began to make greater headway. The machinery, however, was soon stopped, and she was eventually anchored behind the screen, where in coming days she is to stand the test of wind pressure, and to demonstrate one of her main features, that is, to lie in safely throughout it all.

"In addition to these wind tests, there will be trials of engines and in trimming the vessel. During, the afternoon the breeze freshened, but the airship, with her forward propellers working, rose easily at her moorings. It is not known when her trials will commence, but they will probably take place in' Morecambe Bay."