THE AIRSHIP IN WAR
putting the intentions you have manifested into execution. Lieutenant-Colonel Bourdeaux, Sous-Chef of my Cabinet, will also be associated with this superior officer, in order to keep me personally aware of the results of your joint labours.
Recevez, Monsieur, les assurances de ma considération la plus distinguée.
A Monsieur Alberto Santos-Dumont.
On Friday, 31st July 1903, Commandant Hirschauer and Lieutenant-Colonel Bourdeaux spent the afternoon with me at my air-ship station at Neuilly St James, where I had my three newest air-ships—the racing "No. 7," the omnibus "No. 10," and the runabout "No. 9"—ready for their study. Briefly, I may say that the opinions expressed by the representatives of the Minister of War were so unreservedly favourable that a practical test of a novel character was decided to
be made. Should the air-ship chosen pass successfully through it the result will be conclusive of its military value.
Now that these particular experiments are leaving my exclusively private control I will say no more of them than what has been already
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