The Bay's Book of Airships. By Harry Delacombe. (Grant Richards.
6s.)—Mr. Delacombe, who has been assisted by DU. E. J. Partridge, divides his book into three parts. In the first he treats of balloons ; in the second of airships which are constructed on the balloon principle, being lighter than air ; in the third of " heavier-than-air " machines. It is to these, we imagine, that the future—if there is to be a future—belongs. The balloon itself, the oldest of airships, is not a century and a half .obl.
August 27th, 1783, is the date, the Champ de Mars the place, and the brothers Montgolfier the contrivers. But this is an old story, dwarfed into insignificance by monoplanes, biplanes, triplanes, and dirigibles of all kinds. Of these the curious may read in these pages, and happily not be tempted to imitate.
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