I shall however, take you a little
closer.
Walking on until you are within fifty yards of the great balloon
sheds, you pause before a tall fence of barbed wire, this connected
with an elaborate alarm-bell system that sounds in the two guard
houses. For instance, if an enterprising secret agent of France were
to try to steal up on the station, if he came by night and cut through
the barbed wire, a series of bells would immediately sound the general
alarm. Having passed through the six strands of barbed wire a tall
octagonal tower meets the eye. In this tower are installed two
powerful searchlights as well as a complete wireless outfit. All the
Zeppelins carry wireless. By means of elaborate reflectors, it is
possible with the searchlights to flood the whole place with daylight
in the middle of the night. Thus ascensions can be made safely at any
hour of the twenty-four. The three oblong sheds stand in a row, the
middle being the largest, having spaces for two complete dirigibles,
while the other sheds house but one each. They are about 800 feet
long, 200 feet broad and 120 feet high. The whole structure itself
can be shifted to about an angle of forty degrees, this being worked
on a plan similar to the railroad engine turntable. The reason for it
is that with the veering of the wind the sheds are turned so that the
doors will be placed advantageously for the removal of the airship
from its place of shelter.
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