The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-11-18

also enable the force of the wind t. be
apPsUxinnately measured. If the earth
current extends high enough then the
an6fAOrnetet can be at once used to de-
termine. the velocity more accurately.
This known, the length of time which
Will elApse before the balloon will be
over tie populated circle is easily found
out: The balloon itself could be of the
simplest materials-varnished muslin
or perhaps paper. Gas could easily be
generated On board ship, either from
hydr0-carbon or from iron filings, acid
and water. To carry q fifty pound can
OF nltro-glycer ne the diameter of the
air ship need not exceed so ne fifteen
feet. Hence, such a ballo IN could he
handled on and started from the deck
OF good-sized vessel without difficulty.
The can OF explosive could be attached
to tripping device connected to sim.
pie mechanism similar to that used in
cheap alarm clocks. which at the fixed
time would release the detent and allow
the can or shell containing the explosive
to fall. The effect OF fifty pounds of
nitro-glycerine. equal in explosive force
to 400 pounds of ganpowder, decorating
in New York street, need not be de-
scribed. The consequence OF success
sion OF such explosives the enemy
might continue sending balloons as long
as the breeze served, or, if he operated
at night, as would most likely be pre-
ferred, until daylight brought torpedo
boats after him might well be the
speedy capitulation OF the city.
1t is quite possible that the foregoing
conclusions will seem to many to be-
overdrawn. and as tending to magnify
q barely possible danger. It is not
clear, however, that such is the case
when present means Of defense against
such an attack are considered. We
have an unfinished fort at Sandy Hook,
which could nominally oppose a hostile
vessel; but any projectiles which could
now be thrown from. our guns would
glance like peas from the armor of
first-class modern iron-cfad. It would
be very difficult, if not impracticabie,
to plant torpedoes under every possible
station which vessel could take for her
balloon practice, for it is by no means
certain that she could not dispatch her
balloon from distance at sea consider
ably more than twenty-five miles from
the city, and steal up to her vantage
ground suddenly and under cover OF the
night. s..
We might adopt the Prnssian system
of balloon muskets and fire at the bal
looms as soon as they came W thin
range, but the zone in which the de-
jectile would not fall among houses is
small, and otherwise the purposes of
the enemv would not be anticipated.
The Hotchkiss revolving cannon,
throwing as it does one hundred four
pound shells per minute, accurately
over distance of three miles. would be
our best arm against balloons if it could
be arranged to operate un,.cr the heavy
strains incident to very high elevat ons.
Other means of defense than the fore.
going we have not. Lii sht torpedo boats
would find difficulty in patroling be-
yond the lightship in rough weather or
in gale. Land batteries could scarce
ly throw their projectiles fac enough,
and ships bit to cope with those OF 1or-
eign nations are not included in our
relic of navy.
The question is one for the inventors
of the country, and it is worth thinking
about. 1t may give an impetus to the
solution of the flying machine problem,
for certainly the best defense that can
be thought of is an aerial man-Of-war
which could intercept and destroy tor
pedo balloons. and then shower defect.
lies in her turn on the decks of the
enemy's vessels. York Paper.