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Show ENGLAND'S DREADNOUGHT OF AJR. Great Britain's naval airship No. 1, which has been under construction con-struction for more than twelve months at Cavendish Dock, Barrow-in-Furness, is now approaching completion, but nobody can yet say when the huge vessel will be launched. The construction of this first naval Dreadnought of the air has been veiled in the same profound official secrocy as was that of the first Dreadnought of the sea, and, singularly enough, it is taking longer to complete. Nobody, unless he be a naval man directly connected with the work, is allowed to approach within twenty yards of the enormous shed in which the airship is being built. Both officers and men have I been sworn to keep inviolate all details of the work, and anyone ask- ' ing for the baldest information concerning the airship is solemnly i' handed a small cardboard leaflet on which arc printed the penal I clauses of the official secrets act. . No official notification even of the launch of the airship will be . given. j. In all probability tho airship will not be ready to begin her ' trials until next month, and if these prove satisfactory she will take !. a prominent part in the summer naval maneuvers, and will also go to Spithead to join the homo and Atlantic fleets for the coronation , review. If size counts for anything.Britain's naval airship will be the monarch of the air. Her length is 510 feet, her diameter 48 feet, her gas capacity 706,000 onbic feet, and her eight-cylinder motors and three speoially constructed propellors will drive her through the air i at fifty miles an hour. These figures are much larger than those relating to any other airship, not excepting the German Zeppelin; which she will in some respects resemble. It is intended that the airship shall work in conjunction with tho fleet as a swift, far-seeing scout, and she will carry a powerful wireless wire-less apparatus, which will enable her to send news of the movements and position of tho opposing fleet while within clear sight of the ships, and yet well out of the range of the enemy's guns. |