14 DECEMBER 1912, Page 3

The Times of Monday and Tuesday published some par- ticulars

of the French and German airships which have been ordered for the British Navy. The French dirigible, which is an Astra-Torres, is non-rigid when deflated but the equivalent of the rigid type when inflated. It is the largest of its kind yet built, and its makers regard it as a revolution in construction. It is said that it will be sent to England very shortly. The German airship is a non-rigid Parseval. The Zeppelin rigid type may not be exported from Germany. The Parseval can lift a weight of 6,600 lbs. in addition to its own weight, and it has accomplished a speed of a little over forty-two miles an hour. In both cases it seems that the Admiralty will have the right to copy the types and improve upon them.