Topics Of The Times: Dirigible Secrets.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 5, 1913:
    Just what was shown as to dirigible balloons by the equally interesting and amusing adventure of the Z4, the latest and biggest airship of its kind, depends upon the confidence one feels in the explanation of its wanderings and descent given by its navigators. On general principles, as given by army officers on their word of honor, that explanation should be accepted as true, and so it evidently has been accepted by the French military authorities, since they have consented to let the payment of a $2,000 duty on the involuntarily imported craft close the incident. They kindly consent to ignore the obvious fact that the flight was intended to convince the German Government that the Z4 could be driven along for many miles just within the frontier line — which would be not less of a demonstration of its ability, in case of need, to cross that line and so facilitate close observation of the French fortresses.
    It is suggested, not without plausibility, that the French officers would have viewed the episode with greater severity were it not for the opportunity, it gave them for minute study of a machine which doubtless illustrates all that the German scientists have accomplished in the way of making safe and efficient a form of aerial navigation which has been carried further in Germany than anywhere else. Thus, it may be assumed, the Frenchmen have learned, or think they have learned, a lot of important secrets hitherto carefully and successfully guarded.
    So far as this assumption is correct, the joke is on the Germans rather than the French, and the latter have been at least as much instructed as warned. Another thing which the crew of the Z4 have involuntarily but clearly put in their narrative is an indirect but full confession that, in spite of all the wonderful improvements in the dirigible which Count Zeppelin and his associates have effected, it remains a highly uncertain means of travel. Its irremediable fragility was not manifested on this occasion, but the likelihood of getting over unrecognizable territory and of forced descents among what in time of war would be hostile forces was well shown.
    That dirigibles have their military uses is undeniable, and that they have others is more than probable, but they are terribly expensive, and nothing has been accomplished with them to discourage belief that, everything considered, the Aeroplane better solves the problem of aerial navigation.