Aerophilia | Page 9

that he desires his position to be changed, either by
ascending to a higher point or descending. In fact, he may be content to
come to the ground. Nor must the fact be overlooked that while the
enemy is trying to place the observer hors de combat, he is revealing
the position of his artillery, and the observer is equally industrious in
picking up the range of the hostile guns for the benefit of his friends
below.
When the captive balloon is aloft in a wind the chances of the enemy
picking up the range thereof are extremely slender, as it is continually

swinging to and fro. While there is always the possibility of a shell
bursting at such a lucky moment as to demolish the aerial target, it is
generally conceded to be impossible to induce a shell to burst within
100 yards of a balloon, no matter how skilfully the hostile battery may
be operated.
The value of the captive balloon has been demonstrated very strikingly
throughout the attack upon the entrenched German positions in
Flanders. Owing to the undulating character of the dunes the "spotters"
upon the British monitors and battle ships are unable to obtain a
sweeping view of the country. Accordingly captive balloons are sent
aloft in some cases from the deck of the monitors, and in others from a
suitable point upon the beach itself. The aerial observer from his point
of vantage is able to pick up the positions of the German forces and
artillery with ease and to communicate the data thus gained to the
British vessels, although subjected to heavy and continuous hostile fire.
The difficulty of hitting a captive balloon has been graphically
emphasised, inasmuch as the German artillerists have failed to bring
down a solitary balloon. On the other hand the observer in the air is
able to signal the results of each salvo fired from the British battleships
as they manoeuvre at full speed up and down the coastline, while he
keeps the fire of the monitors concentrated upon the German positions
until the latter have been rendered untenable or demolished. The
accuracy of the British gun-fire has astonished even the Germans, but it
has been directly attributable to the rangefinder perched in the car of
the captive balloon and his rapid transmission of information to the
vessels below.
The enthusiastic supporters of aerial navigation maintained that the
dirigible and the aeroplane would supersede the captive balloon
completely. But as a matter of fact the present conflict has established
the value of this factor more firmly than ever. There is not the slightest
possibility that the captive balloon sections of the belligerents will be
disbanded, especially those which have the fruits of experience to guide
them. The airship and the aeroplane have accomplished wonders, but
despite their achievements the captive balloon has fully substantiated
its value as a military unit in its particular field of operations.

CHAPTER III
GERMANY'S RISE TO MILITARY AIRSHIP SUPREMACY
Two incidents in the history of aviation stand out with exceptional
prominence. The one is the evolution of the Zeppelin airship--a story
teeming with romance and affording striking and illuminating glimpses
of dogged perseverance, grim determination in the face of repeated
disasters, and the blind courageous faith of the inventor in the creation
of his own brain. The second is the remarkable growth of Germany's
military airship organisation, which has been so rapid and complete as
to enable her to assume supremacy in this field, and that within the
short span of a single decade.
The Zeppelin has always aroused the world's attention, although this
interest has fluctuated. Regarded at first as a wonderful achievement of
genius, afterwards as a freak, then as the ready butt for universal
ridicule, and finally with awe, if not with absolute terror--such in brief
is the history of this craft of the air.
Count von Zeppelin can scarcely be regarded as an ordinary man. He
took up the subject of flight at an age which the majority of individuals
regard as the opportune moment for retirement from activity, and,
knowing nothing about mechanical engineering, he concentrated his
energies upon the study of this science to enable him to master the
difficulties of a mechanical character incidental to the realisation of his
grand idea. His energy and indomitable perseverance are equalled by
his ardent patriotism, because, although the Fatherland discounted his
idea when other Powers were ready to consider it, and indeed made him
tempting offers for the acquisition of his handiwork, he stoutly declined
all such solicitations, declaring that his invention, if such it may be
termed, was for his own country and none other.
Count von Zeppelin developed his line of study and thought for one
reason only. As an old campaigner and a student of military affairs he