The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-26
SPIRIT or THn RRHss.
Editorial Opinions OF the Leading Journals
spon Current Topios-cempiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
WAR BALLOONS.

WAR BALLOONS.
Ffe,n the NJ r. Times.
The battle in the air, which was reported
the other day by both English and Belgian
newspapers, seemed almost too incredible
for belief, vet, as it has not been contra
dicted, there is probably truth in it. Oar
readers may remember that this is one of
the incidents referred to a short time
previously, in these columns, as having
been prefigured in romance, but at that
time not vet realized. From present appear
ances, however, it seems likely that such
conflicts may become common affairs. The
numerous aerial attempts and adventures
of both French and Prussians in the existing
war bid fair to add materially to the stock of
useful knowledge on such subjects, and to
lead to a more general use of balloons for
military purposes hereafter; and the greater
the number of belligerent balloons the greater
the probability of their collision. A vastly
increased use of balloons during future wars
appears, in fact, to be seriously contem-
plated by the English Government, which
has recently been carrying on quite an ex-
tensive series of aeronautic experiments at
Woolwich.
The results of some of these essays have
proved, according to the London press, very
interesting. 1t is said as regards captive bal
loons-which are the most practically useful
for purposes of reconnoissance-that height
of six hundred feet at a horizontal distance
Of $500 feet is best to enable the observers to
secure the widest expanse of view. To be
lower gives insufficient range; to be higher
entails atmospheric obscurities; and to be
nearer is too hazardous. Again, it is said that
a captive balloon attains stability, and
remains, like kite, at rest, 'when the hori-
zontal resultant of the ascensional force and
the tension of the cord are equal to the force
Of the wind" The machine being steady,
a fresh device is brought into play
this has been actually done, we understand
at Woolwich-to utilize science for the pro-
secution of war. Eight cameras and lenses
have been arranged about the car at equal
distances, and complete view of the sur
rounding country has thus been photo
graphed for transmission to the authorities
below. Photographers will understand how
this may be done under such circum stances
to advantage, by a consideration of the fact
that the refraction of the visual rays is the
same for all objects coming under the same
angle, while in a horizontal ground-view it is
very irregular. The balloon view affords,
then, a uniform refraction of circle, and a
more certain relative position of the object.
But, although to get accurate pictures of
the surrounding country is. Important, to con-
vey instant intelligence to friends below may
be more SO. The old plan of doing this was
as follows:-A message was written on tube
of white pasteboard shaped like a cartridge
and open at both ends. To this bullet was
attached, and the apparatus, being slipped
over line, ran easily to Its attached end
at the earth. The new method is much more
elegant and scientific. 1t consists in the
use of telegraphy and was to some extent
praotised in our own war. By the new
system for the field adopted by the British
War Office, it is claimed that lines OF
telegraph can be carried through the
air from the earth to balloon several miles
distant. The wire can be paid out, it is said
as fast as the balloon travels, so that, even il
captive balloon breaks or scars away, com
munication can be kept up with it for at least
six miles. Or, again, two or more balloons
can be sent up and kept in telegraphic com
munication with each other by means oil
aerial and land lines, so that telegraphic ope
rations can be effected from the balloon t.
headquarters, and thence to the base of ope
rations. These experiments, it will be re-
membered, were in some degree made on the
Potomac, but with only partial and unsatis
factory results. The reports from Woolwicl
tell far more hopeful story. They declar,
that the trials made there have unmistakably
shown that the advantages, in reconnois
sance, of this application of balloons are in
calculable. 1T enabled the observing off
GERS to survey an area of thirty square miles
not vaguely, but sharply pictured befor
them" And sit was found by practice tina
great skill can be attained in judging of tn
relative position of masses of troops, Will
minuter details can be subsequently ob
tanned at leisure by field glasses, as to tn
position of mountain gorges, passes, limit
of woods, course of streams, etc. If tn
accounts before us are not too warmly drawn
the problem of effectually employing ba
looms for military purposes will be solved by
this happy combination of photography ant
the telegraph.
There is no doubt, at all events, that tn
English authorities are earnestly engaged i
this investigation, and the English Journal
express sanguine hopes of the trials in pre-
gress at Woolwich. Two officers, Captain
Brackenbury and Noble, have been des
patched thence to the respective seats O
war, to pick up and compare information
and il is whispered that war balloons ar
already being manufactured in the Roya
Arsenal, and that officers of the Royal Eng
neers, from generals downward, are to b
trained in their use The difficulties expe
rienced by French and Prussians in the us
of military balloons are attributed to tn
fact that they have few or no officers q
their own accustomed to their use, dis
advantage which none of the great power
are likely in future to overlook, or fail t
provide for.