uick-witted to succeed in frustrating the
destructive tactics of his natural enemy.

Only a short while ago in France, British airmen who went aloft in a
gale found the latter too strong for them. Although the machine was
driven full speed ahead it was forced backwards at the rate of 10 miles
per hour because the independent speed of the aeroplane was less
than the velocity of the wind. But a dirigible has never succeeded
in weathering a gale; its bulk, area, and weight, combined with its
relatively slow movement, are against it, with the result that it is
hurled to destruction. All things considered, the dirigible is regarded
as an impracticable acquisition to a fleet, except in the eyes of the
Germans, who have been induced to place implicit reliance upon their
monsters. The gullible Teuton public confidently believes that their
Dreadnoughts of the air will complete the destruction of the British
fleet, but responsible persons know full well that they will not play
such a part, but must be reserved for scouting. Hitherto, in naval
operations, mosquito water-craft, such as torpedo-boats, have been
employed in this service. But these swift vessels suffer from one
serious disability. The range of vision is necessarily limited, and a
slight mist hanging over the water blinds them; the enemy may even pass
within half-a-mile of them and escape detection.

The Zeppelin from its position 1,000 feet or more above the water, in
clear weather, has a tremendous range of vision; the horizon is about 40
miles distant, as compared with approximately 8 miles in the case of the
torpedo-boat. Of course an object, such as a battleship, may be detected
at a far greater range. Consequently the German naval programme is to
send the Zeppelin a certain distance ahead of the battleship squadron.
The dirigible from its coign of vantage would be able to sight a hostile
squadron if it were within visual range and would communicate the fact
to the commander of the fleet below. The latter would decide his course
according to information received; thus he would be enabled to elude
his enemy, or, if the tidings received from the aerial scout should
be favourable, to dispose his vessels in the most favourable array for
attack.

The German code of naval tactics does not foreshadow the use of
dirigible aircraft as vessels of attack. Scouting is the primary and
indeed the only useful duty of the dirigible, although it is quite
possible that the aeria