Once more the aeronautical world became interested in Zeppelins. The last cruise of the “=Bodensee=” under German management took her from Friedrichshafen to Rome. She cruised over Zurich, Bern, Geneva and Avignon, often making 160 kilometers an hour, to the Mediterranean, near St. Rafael. Visitors at Cannes, Nice and Monaco saw a rigid airship for the first time as the “=Bodensee=” held to her route passing directly over Corsica and Elba, and finally to the airdrome in Ciampino, between Rome and the Albanian mountains. She had made more than 825 miles (1,329 kilometers) in 12 hours and 49 minutes, at an average speed of 64.6 miles (104 kilometers) an hour for the entire distance. [PLATE 53: 60,000 Cubic Meter Fast Passenger Zeppelin. For medium distances. Accommodations for eighty passengers besides the necessary crew. 100,000 Cubic Meter Fast Commercial Zeppelin. Trans-Atlantic mail and express service.] CHAPTER IV The Zeppelin Organization and Facilities Today The Zeppelin organization today is prepared to build, deliver and operate rigid airships for any purpose. It has under contract virtually all the competent airship personnel in Germany. Practically all the engineering staffs and workmen employed in developing Zeppelins have been retained, one way or another, that they may be prepared to guarantee satisfactory performance of any Zeppelin turned out. Actual construction work was discontinued early in 1920. The Allied Powers so interpreted the Treaty of Versailles that the German aircraft industry was not able to produce ships or planes having the least possible military value. Further restrictions were defined in the London Ultimatum. They have been enforced by the Allied Control Commission. Research and Development Work Continues Notwithstanding this severe handicap, the Zeppelin organizations have been kept intact. There has been sufficient work on motor cars, motor boats, motors, gears, aluminum foundry work, etc. to keep the workmen occupied. Where some of the plants have been closed, the entire personnel has been transferred into the other active organizations. In each branch of the Zeppelin organization design and research work on airships and aerial navigation have continued and progressed. Zeppelin Able to Produce All Types Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin has been particularly active in developing as far as possible the many ideas and inventions originating before and during the war. Many of their new airship designs have been completed, others partly finished. It is now possible to produce quickly any type of commercial airship from of 700,000 to 7,000,000 cubic feet (20,000 to 2,000,000 cubic meters) capacity. [PLATE 54: 100,000 Cubic Meter Fast Commercial Zeppelin. Trans-Atlantic mail and express service. CONTROL and NAVIGATION CAR PASSENGER and OFFICERS’ QUARTERS For ZEPPELIN AIRSHIP Entw. 270]