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I agree with your analysis of the Zeppelins limitations, they were bleeding edge technology, prone to odd accidents at odd time. The Africa ship twice suffered a near fatal loss in buoyancy. But the ships could have done the job if directed to do so and the political will to win had been there. Establishing a base in Mexico or elsewhere, in addition to endlessly annoying the Yanks, would have allowed needed maintenance and replenishment before attempting the trip home.
To what end would this have taken Germany? The total volume of good shipped would never have come close to offsetting the blockade due, as you point out, the Zeppelin's useful payload being so small. But the total volume of goods shipped would have increased as the number of operational Zeppelins increased. (I am also assuming, with out evidence, that the loss rate for a Zeppelin based airlift would have been much less than what was suffered in the bombing campaign, allowing a critical mass of ships and personal to accumulate.)
Something, even a little bit of something beats nothing, and after the turnip winter of 1916 – 1917, which saw many average Germans at the brink of starvation, the political and propaganda value of a Zeppelin airlift would have worth it weight in gold.
Of course the Kaiser could have considerable public goodwill by giving up the good life for the duration. Unlike the British Royal Family who made a point of using ration books, the German Royal Family continued a life of privilege. Amidst war time sacristy the Crown Prince even built a new palace for himself. Against such behavior all the airships in the world couldn't generate enough good will, but the attempt would have been magnificent.
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