as was necessary, and
from her altitude was able to exercise an outlook for a far greater
distance than was possible from the bridge of a destroyer. She could
also sweep the surface ahead of the approaching convoy, and warn it by
wireless or by flash-lamp of the presence of submarines or mines. By
these timely warnings many vessels were saved. Owing to the position
of the stations it was possible for a convoy to be met by airships west
of the Scilly Isles and escorted by the airships of the succeeding
stations right up the Channel. In a similar manner, the main shipping
routes on the east coast and also in the Irish Sea were under constant
observation. The mail steamers between England and Ireland and
transports between England and France were always escorted whenever
flying conditions were possible. For escort duties involving long
hours of flying, the Coastal and C Star types were peculiarly suitable,
and at a later date the North Sea, which could accompany a convoy for
the length of Scotland. Airships have often proved of value in
summoning help to torpedoed vessels, and on occasions survivors in open
boats have been rescued through the agency of patrolling airships.
Examination duties are reckoned among the many obligations of the
airship. Suspicious-looking vessels were always carefully scrutinized,
and if unable to give a satisfactory answer to signals made, were
reported to vessels of the auxiliary patrol for closer examination.
Isolated fishing vessels always were kept under close observation, for
one of the many ruses of the submarine was to adopt the disguise of a
harmless fishing boat with masts and sails.

The large transports, conveying American troops who passed through
England on their way to France, were always provided with escorting
airships whenever possible, and their officers have extolled their
merits in most laudatory terms.

Our rigid airships also contributed their share in convoy work,
although their appearance as active units was delayed owing to slowness
in construction.

A disturbing feature to the advocate of the large airship, has been the
destruction of raiding Zeppelins by heavier-than-air machines, and the
Jeremiahs have not lost this opportunity of declaring that for war
purposes the huge rigid is now useless and will always be at the
complete mercy of the fast scouting aeroplane. There is never any
obstacle in this world that cannot be surmounted by some means or
other.