A.A. Rigid hull covered by fabric; B. Section showing the skeleton framework of hull; C. Arrangement of the interior gas chambers; D. Elevating-planes; E.E. Rudders; F.F. The two cars containing engines and crew; G. Passage-way between the cars; H. One of the propellers, of which the craft has four--two at the front of the hull, upon either side, and two at the rear.] At first, flying slowly and with unreliable motors, these very large airships were at the mercy of the wind, particularly when manœuvring near the ground. Trained crews were necessary to handle them, and they had to be housed in huge and expensive sheds, as will be realised from a glance at Fig. 82. But for the one ardent pioneer, Count Zeppelin, it is doubtful whether large, rigid craft would have been built at all. After costing many thousands, they ran the risk of being dashed to earth in a squall and hopelessly wrecked. Such a fate, indeed, befell one ship after another that Count Zeppelin launched. But he refused to be discouraged, and went on doggedly until his private fortune was gone. Then, magnificent flights having been made, the Government came to his aid; while the German people, immensely proud of his achievements, subscribed more than £300,000 for the furtherance of his tests. And so now the Zeppelin--powerfully engined, better built, and handled by expert crews--is the Dreadnought of the German air-fleet, flying hundreds of miles over the North Sea, co-operating with warships as a scout, and flashing messages by wireless for distances of 300 miles. [Illustration: FIG. 82.--An Airship leaving its shed. A. The machine emerging stern first; B. A sister craft in dock; C.C. The launching crews; D.D. Rails upon which the cars of the airship move, so as to prevent its swinging sideways in a gust; E. Outlook station upon the roof of the shed; F. Workshops; living quarters for the crews; plant for making hydrogen gas.] The airship, for long-distance reconnoitring, stands at present unrivalled. It can remain in the air for days, sweeping over sea or land, and reporting constantly to its headquarters. For night flying, also, it is at present the superior of the aeroplane, being navigable in darkness, and having an ability to hover above a given spot, its engines silent, and its presence undetected by those below. CHAPTER XV AERIAL WARFARE[2] Guns and bomb tubes--Launching a plane from a ship at sea--Transporting troops by aeroplane--Battles in the air. Nations, in their preparations for war, make a succession of moves and counter-moves. For instance, a torpedo-boat is perfected; immediately it is launched, and ready for its deadly rôle, a larger and swifter craft is built which may sink it or chase it off the seas. A huge battleship, supreme in its might to-day, is eclipsed to-morrow and made to appear obsolete. [Illustration: _Photo_, “_Central News_.” PLATE XII.--THE LONDON AERODROME FROM ABOVE.