CAB38-23 — Page 148

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4

My dear Sir Arthur Wilson,

II.

February 3, 1913. I HAVE carefully read through your most interesting paper, and should like to send you a few remarks on the chief points you have dealt with which have been made by my advisers. To make them clear they may be outlined as follows:

*

(1.) The working altitude required by a naval air-

ship.

(2.) The sacrifices involved in rising to this working

altitude.

(3.) The weights carried by the latest Zeppelin air-

ships.

(4.) The navigation of an airship out of sight of

land.

(5.) The ignition of hydrogen in an airship.

(6.) The use of a telescope in an airship.

(7.) Deflation of a Zeppelin.

(8.) Aeroplanes as a defence against airships.

(9.) Voyages of Zeppelin, &c.

(10.) Airship technics touched upon.

Some further information has been gathered on the following points :—

(11.) Number of German airships now available for

war purposes.

(12.) Subsidising airships and airship sheds in

Germany.

(13.) Naval airship station at Cuxhaven.

(14.) Visit of Hansa over Sheerness.

(15.) Use of aircraft on enemy's coast.

(16.) The construction of aircraft in this country.

(17.) German Air Fleet Bill.

The Altitude a Naval Airship should work at.

1.-(a) Scouting work is the principal aim and use of the naval airship. For scouting work at sea a height of 1,500 feet is ample (distance of horizon 44 miles), as there is no need to get within range of an enemy's fleet in order to observe its composition. Scouting work is obviously dependent on weather conditions. On the other hand an airship is much cheaper to build and to maintain than a cruiser. An efficient airship should be able to send information for a long distance by wireless telegraphy. Attacks by an airship will not likely be made on a battleship or cruiser in daylight.

(b.) Her attack would be chiefly directed on docks, magazines, oil fuel tanks, oil steamers, colliers, destroyers, submarines, &c. These attacks would be made at night at low altitude with a view to accuracy of aim when dropping the explosives. Searchlights have short range, so she will be comparatively safe from gun- fire during darkness.

2. At any time during a flight the Zeppelin can rise dynamically through 2,500 feet by means of her engine think she can carry her full 2 (a). I doubt this. I do not power and horizontal rudders without any expenditure weight. of ballast. During her flight she will consume a ton of fuel for every eight hours travelled. The loss of this 1 ton of fuel will enable her to rise another 1,400 feet if required. In addition to this most Zeppelin airships

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