g-American Line ("HAPAG") which had offices in all
German cities, also represented Zeppelin, and reservations were made on
the same basis as for ocean going vessels.

The "=Deutschland=" was the first Zeppelin operated by the "DELAG." The
motors, however, were not very dependable; and the low speed of the
ship, combined with lack of experience made it susceptible to minor
accidents. The =Deutschland= was so badly damaged, finally, that Zeppelin
was compelled to rebuild her. During the period that she was being
reconstructed the Zeppelin LZ-6 was substituted.

The "Schwaben" Filled all Requirements

The first ship to fill the requirements essential to safe and steady
commercial operations was the "=Schwaben=" built in the summer of 1911.
She was 459.2 feet (140 meters) long, 45.9 feet (14 meters) in
diameter, and of 615,580 cubic feet (18,000 cubic meters) hydrogen gas
capacity. Her three Maybach 145 horsepower motors gave the "=Schwaben=" a
speed of 43 miles an hour (19.3 meters per second). She had a useful
lift of 8,818.4 pounds (4,000 kilograms). During the latter part of 1911
more than a hundred flights were made with the "=Schwaben=" between Lake
Constance, Niederheim, Gotha, and Berlin. These flights warranted larger
ships.

[PLATE 46: The "DELAG" Passenger Zeppelin "Nordstern."

Interior view with gas bags removed.]

In March 1912, the "DELAG" put into operation the new Zeppelin "=Victoria
Louise=" (Plates 31-32) and in the summer, her sister ship the "=Hansa=".
These Zeppelins were 485.4 feet (148 meters) long and 45.9 feet (14
meters) in diameter. They each held 670,890 cubic feet (19,000 cubic
meters) of hydrogen and their useful lift was 11,023 pounds (5,000
kilograms). Motors had been so improved that the "=Victoria Louise=" and
"=Hansa=" were able to make 44.7 and 46.9 miles per hour respectively.

Accommodations for Many Passengers

Each Zeppelin accommodated twenty-four passengers besides the crew. Warm
meals were served from the up to date electrical kitchen. There was
wireless aboard, also.

The ships gave complete satisfaction during hundreds of flights made
over constantly increasing distances. They won the confidence of the
traveling public; and equally important, had supplied much valuable
experience and information, for they operated in all kinds of weather at
all seasons of the year.

In 1913, the new Zeppelin, "=Sachsen=", (Plate 33) was added to the
"DELAG" fleet. She had