Formerly Austria-Hungary led the way in aëronautics amongst the nations of the Triple Alliance. Germany particularly looked to her for flying machines, and the first Etrichs were hers; but military aëronautics in Austria-Hungary are now at a low ebb. The decline is ascribed to monopoly and centralisation. At the present moment Austria has one dirigible, in a feeble condition, and about ten aëroplanes of foreign make. Two German houses, the Albatross and D.F.W., have quite lately opened branches in Austria. The dual monarchy began well; in 1909 she had a small Parsifal, in 1910 a Lebaudy, in 1911 the Körting. These three perished in accidents. Her own system, the Boemches, presented to her by a national subscription, failed in speed; but though she has no dirigibles to inhabit them she has three good hangars! Belgium has three airships, all non-rigid--two Godards and one Astra. Although not of very late construction, all three have innovations and interesting features. The Astra is private property. [Illustration: [_Topical Press._ ZEPPELIN AIRSHIP AT COLOGNE, showing at the rear large vertical rudder, and two pairs of vertical rudders for horizontal steering, the horizontal planes at the sides for vertical steering, two of the four propellers at side of airship, car beneath airship.] CHAPTER IV THE GERMAN AIRSHIP FLEET Many reports have been current concerning the exact dimensions of the airship fleet that Germany can put into action. It has been said that she has been extremely active since the beginning of the present war in adding fresh units to the forces she had available when the war broke out. It has also been rumoured that she is making a new type of Zeppelin--one much smaller, and which will have greater speed than the larger type. GERMAN AIRSHIPS IN THE SPRING OF 1913.