the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第6章
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current； then your rudder will act； and you may take what direction you
will。
It was soon seen that if some method could be adopted whereby the
balloon moved through the air faster or slower than the wind； then the
aeronaut would be able to steer it。 Nowadays a balloon's pace can be
accelerated by means of a powerful motor…engine； but the invention of the
petrol…engine is very recent。 Indeed； the cause of the long delay in the
construction of a steerable balloon was that a suitable engine could not be
found。 A steam…engine； with a boiler of sufficient power to propel a
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balloon； is so heavy that it would require a balloon of impossible size to
lift it。
One of the first serious attempts to steer a balloon by means of engine
power was that made by M。 Giffard in 1852。 Giffard's balloon was about
100 feet long and 40 feet in diameter； and resembled in shape an elongated
cigar。 A 3…horse…power steam…engine； weighing nearly 500 pounds； was
provided to work a propeller； but the enormous weight was so great in
proportion to the lifting power of the balloon that for a time the aeronaut
could not leave the ground。 After several experiments the inventor
succeeded in ascending； when he obtained a speed against the wind of
about 6 miles an hour。
A balloon of great historical interest was that invented by Dtipuy du
Lonie； in the year 1872。 Instead of using steam he employed a number of
men to propel the craft； and with this air…ship he hoped to communicate
with the besieged city of Paris。
His greatest speed against a moderate breeze was only about 5 miles
an hour； and the endurance of the men did not allow of even this speed
being kept up for long at a time。
Dupuy foreshadowed the construction of the modern dirigible air…ship
by inventing a system of suspension links which connected the car to the
envelope； and he also used an internal ballonet similar to those described
in Chapter X。
In the year 1883 Tissandier invented a steerable balloon which was
fitted with an electric motor of 1 1/2 horse…power。 This motor drove a
propeller； and a speed of about 8 miles an hour was attained。 It is
interesting to contrast the power obtained from this engine with that of
recent Zeppelin air…ships； each of which is fitted with three or four engines；
capable of producing over 800 horse…power。
The first instance on record of an air…ship being steered back to its
starting…point was that of La France。 This air…craft was the invention of
two French army captains； Reynard and Krebs。 By special and much…
improved electric motors a speed of about 14 miles an hour was attained。
Thus； step by step； progress was made； but notwithstanding the
promising results it was quite evident that the engines were far too heavy
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in proportion to the power they supplied。 At length； however； the internal…
combustion engine； such as is used in motor…cars； arrived； and it became at
last possible to solve the great problem of constructing a really…serviceable；
steerable balloon。
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CHAPTER IX The Strange Career of Count
Zeppelin
In Berlin； on March 8； 1917； there passed away a man whose name
will be remembered as long as the English language is spoken。 For Count
Zeppelin belongs to that little band of men who giving birth to a work of
genius have also given their names to the christening of it； and so the
patronymic will pass down the ages。
In the most sinister sense of the expression Count Zeppelin may be
said to have left his mark deep down upon the British race。 In course of
time many old scores are forgiven and forgotten； but the Zeppelin raids on
England will survive； if only as a curious failure。 Their failure was both
material and moral。 Anti…aircraft guns and our intrepid airmen brought one
after another of these destructive monsters blazing to the ground； and their
work of 〃frightfulness〃 was taken up by the aeroplane； while more
lamentable still was the failure of the Zeppelin as an instrument of terror
to the civil population。 In the long list of German miscalculations must be
included that which pictured the victims of bombardment from the air
crying out in terror for peace at any price。
Before the war Count Zeppelin was regarded by the British public as
rather a picturesque personality。 He appeared in the romantic guise of the
inventor struggling against difficulties and disasters which would soon
have overwhelmed a man of less resolute character。 Even old age was
included in his handicap； for he was verging on seventy when still arming
against a sea of troubles。
The ebb and flow of his fortunes were followed with intense interest in
this country； and it is not too much to say that the many disasters which
overtook his air…ships in their experimental stages were regarded as world…
wide calamities。
When； finally； the Count stood on the brink of ruin and the Kaiser
stepped forward as his saviour； something like a cheer went up from the
British public at this theatrical episode。 Little did the audience realize what
was to be the outcome of the association between these callous and
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masterful minds。
And now for a brief sketch of Count Zeppelin's life…story。 He was born
in 1838； in a monastery on an island in Lake Constance。 His love of
adventure took him to America； and when he was about twenty…five years
of age he took part in the American Civil War。 Here he made his first
aerial ascent in a balloon belonging to the Federal army； and in this way
made that acquaintance with aeronautics which became the ruling passion
of his life。
After the war was over he returned to Germany； only to find another
war awaiting himthe Austro…Prussian campaign。 Later on he took part in
the Franco…Prussian War； and in both campaigns he emerged unscathed。
But his heart was not in the profession of soldiering。 He had the
restless mind of the inventor； and when he retired； a general； after twenty
years' military service； he was free to give his whole attention to his
dreams of aerial navigation。 His greatest ambition was to make his country
pre…eminent in aerial greatness。
Friends to whom he revealed his inmost thoughts laughed at him
behind his back； and considered that he was 〃a little bit wrong in his head〃。
Certainly his ideas of a huge aerial fleet appeared most extravagant； for it
must be remembered that the motor…engine had not then arrived； and there
appeared no reasonable prospect of its invention。
Perseverance； however； was the dominant feature of Count Zeppelin's
character； he refused to be beaten。 His difficulties were formidable。 In the
first place； he had to master the whole science of aeronautics； which
implies some knowledge of mechanics； meteorology； and electricity。 This
in itself was no small task for a man of over fifty years of age； for it was
not until Count Zeppelin had retired from the army that he began to study
these subjects at all deeply。
The next step was to construct a large shed for the housing of his air…
ship； and also for the purpose of carrying out numerous costly experiments。
The Count selected Friedrichshafen； on the shores of Lake Constance； as
his head…quarters。 He decided to conduct his experiments over the calm
waters of the lake； in order to lessen the effects of a fall。 The original shed
was constructed on pontoons； and it could be turned round as desired； so
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that the air…ship could be brought out in the lee of any wind from
whatsoever quarter it came。
It is said that the Count's private fortune of about L25；000 was soon
expended in the cost of these works and the necessary experiments。 To
continue his work he had to appeal for funds to all his friends； and also to
all patriotic Germans； from the Kaiser downwards。
At length； in 1908； there came a turning…point in his fortunes。 The
German Government； which had watched the Count's progress with great
interest； offered to buy his invention outright if he succeeded in remaining
aloft in one of his dirigibles for twenty…four hours。 The Count did not quite
succeed in his task； but he aroused the great interest of the whole German
nation； and a Zeppelin fund was established； under the patronage of the
Kaiser； in every town and city in the Fatherland。 In about a month the fund
amounted to over L300；000。 With this sum the veteran inventor was able
to extend his works； and produce air…ship after air…ship with remarkable
rapidity。 When； war broke out it is probable that Germany possessed at
least thirteen air…ships which had fulfilled very difficult tests。 One had
flown 1800 miles in a single journey。 Thus the East Coast of England；
representing a return journey of less than 600 miles was well within their
range of action。
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CHAPTER X A Zeppelin Air…ship and its
Construction
After the Zeppelin fund had brought in a sum of money which
probably exceeded all expectations； a company was formed for the
construction
