The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-28
War Balloons.

experiments with war balloons will
be continued at Woolwich for several
months. A select balloon committee
has been appointed, who have instruc-
tons to report the result of the expert
ments to the War Department. Among
the recent Improvements in the con-
structiOn OF balloons is a stronger fabric
than formerly used, the tear and strain
of captive balloons being very great.
A steel wire cable is fixed to the net
work of captive balloon and termi-
mates on the ground. This cable is in
sulated, and the telephone will be used
as means of communication between
the surveying officers and the balloon
committee on terra firma. The Cru
sader assembled yesterday, with lift
ing power of 1,400 pounds. The cable,
which gives 200 yards to 100 pounds in
weight, will bear a strain of twenty-five
tons. Great progress will also be made
in balloon instruments. There are tel
escapes which command a twelve-mile
range, a vane which indicates the di-
rectiOn the balloon is going, a lamp
which will burn in safety in hydrogen
gas, and a pocket aneroid to indicate
the exact altitude of the balloon. An
other point of progress is a strategical
one, enabling engineer officers to leave
besieged city in balloon, and to re-
turn to it again. Assuming that Lon
don was besieged with an enemy twen-
ty miles round, and the General COM
handing says to the aeronaut officers:
take this dispatch to York and return
with five field telegraphists," the mes
sage would be conveyed as follows:
The war balloon would leave at high
altitude in the usual way. If the wind
happened to be north the descent would
be made, say, at Leicester, and an aide
de-camp would take the dispatch by the
first or by special train to York. The
balloon, uninfiated, would then be tax
en- by circuitous route to, say, Bright
on, and be inflated at the nearest gas
works, when the north wind would take
it and the field telegraphists into Lon
don. If person in future should want
to be conveyed out of besieged city,
or newspaper correspondent to enter
it, they would be enabled to do so at the
cost of about f100. Another important
improvement is beautifully arranged
system of balloon signals. Before the
experiments at Woolwich are completed
five captive balloons will float at one
time over London, at distances of five
miles, and converse by signals with the
greatest ease; and if the order is given
for a balloon at Woolwich to proceed
afloat, regardless of wind, to Aldershot,
it would be done by attaching the earth
fNft ha
CINE, or a military wagon, the same
cable having pipe attached to trav-
cling gas-making apparatus to keep the
balloon afloat any number of hours or
days. The Crusader has already been
removed atloat three miles in this way.
In addition to war balloons built for
various degrees of altitude, it is pro-
posed to have Il sea class of balloons
for use in naval warfare, with tele-
phone and gasmaking apparatus (steam
passing through iron filings) on a
steamer below, with subsidiary steam
ers to convey information to the Admit
raj of the fleet The crusader yester-
day made free ascent with Capt Tenn
plar and two others in it; but on a sub
sequent day it will remain captive, ard
Her Majesty's troops stationed at Wool
witch will turn out in various directions
within an area of thirty square miles
and the surveying officers in the OBJ
servatory balloon, possessing vision
unobstructed by hills, woods, buildings,
etc. will have to furnish information to
decide the best tactical and strategic
disposition of the troops, and by means
of tield-glasses to spy out the masked
batteries, ambuscades, entertainments
and outworks, to calculate the limits of
the surrounding woods, and the rela-
tive position, distance and number of
the surrounding troops. They will have
to photograph the surrounding country,
and exercise the greatest vigilance and
presence of mind to prevent military
surprises and provide against disaster.
They will have to keep the General COM
manding informed of the assembly and
attack of troops, the advance of guns,
mastering of cavalry, down to an aide
de-camp being taken prisoner. The ex-
periments will be made in the presence
of the select committee, several of
whom were present yesterday. If their
report is satisfactory, war balloons will
be adopted into the service, balloon
trains established, and officers of the
engineers instructed in their use.-LOn-
don Daily NeWS.