In 1901 suggested this newspaper that Switzerland had her own navy but in fact was referred to an ‘air force’.(1). As result of successful experiments with air balloons decided the Swiss Bundesrat to found a air ship company. She was commanded by a captain and consisted of 8 officers, 22 non-commissioned officers and 162 men. The material consisted of 18 car including a cable car,2 balloon cars, a tools car and some wagons to transported bottles (I suppose cylinders filled with gas).
Note
1. In the Swiss history however warships did have exist for centuries and were used on the lakes by for instance the city Bern. So if the Dutch newspaper thought she was joking she wasn’t correct. During the Second World War were several small units in service.
