156 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
I believe that in this respect our air-ships have nothing to envy 
in those of foreigners. I even believe frankly that ours are superior. 
We can continue to be proud, then, of our air-ships; they possess to 
a higher degree than others the first of all qualities, individual velo- 
city. They are gaining in this respect from day to day, and when 
our engineers desire it they can provide them besides with the carry- 
ing capacity of which our rivals are so proud. 
France is in no danger, as has been frequently loudly announced, 
of losing the empire of the air.* 
“These lines were written before the catastrophe of the dirigible Republique. 
This tragic event, nevertheless, does not alter the conclusions of this article in 
the slightest degree.—RENARD. 
