The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-07
MILITARY Balloorine.

Although it is just ninety years ago
since the French first established a mil
itary balloon corps, our first serious
step in this direction was taken only the
other day by the formation of a school
of military b%allooning at Chatham. As
q rule, we are rather late in adopting
what a prejudiced mind considers as an
innovation; but in this case let us hope
that III own experiences and those of
observers for the past century will go
far to make this school the foundation
of what with US ought to become q per-
manent military institution. In 1894 a
military nronautic school was founded
at Meudon, under the superintendent
of Colonel Coutelle and a chemist,
named Guyton de Morveau. -Four bal
looms were speedily manufactured fol-
the use of the armies operating in the
north, on the Sambre, on the Mouse,
and in Egypt. InJune of the same year
Colonel Coutelle, accompanied by his
adjutant and the general, made an as
cent in q captive balloon of four hours
duration, for the purposes of observa-
ton before the battle of Fleurus, and it
is reported that to this was mainly due
the victory, owing to the moral effect on
the enemy, who were greatly disconcer-
ted at their positions and movements
being discovered, thus preventing the
possibilities of a surprise from their
side. This balloon was inflated with
hydrogen gas. In 1880, during the
African campaign, military b%a!looning
was attempted on q small scale, but
with no valuable or even practical re-
suit. Again, in 1910, q reconnaissance
was made in q balloon sent up from be-
fore Venice. We find again that, in
the Italian war of 1859, although there
was no military balloon crops ready at
the time, the French made use of
balloons managed by professionals, and
that an important reconnaissance was
made in o fire balloon before the battle
of Solferino. During the late Ameri-
can wal balloons were much used by
the Federals. General Mcclellan had
q regular balloon crops attached to
the staff of his army. This crops con-
sisted of a captain, an assistant captain,
md about fifty noncommissioned officers
and men. The apparel was carried in
two four-horse wagons; these wagons
also carried the generators. There
were acid carts besides. and hydrogen
gas was used. There were two balloons
in use, one of a capacity of $4,000 cubic
feet, the other of 26, 600 cubic feet
Their initiation usually occupied from
three to four hours; and it is only
fair to presume that, as these balloons
were in constant use till the close of the
war, some material value mus
have been drawn from them
During the siege of Paris
the only means of communication tina
the beleaguered garrison had with the
) outer world was through balloons. Two
, immense Government manufacture
| were started at two of the principa
: railway stations, and many hundred mel
! and women were employed, the womer
r in cutting and sewing, the men, chief,
sailors, in knotting and splicing. il
all si1ty-four balloons were sent up
D several were captured by the Prussians
{ many we're fired at. One descended O
) Christiania, after o journey of tifteel
hours duration. The average capacit
] of these balloons was from 10000 t
u, 900 cubic feet. Experiments wer
tried at Aldershot in 1S62-63, and agail
in 1880 with the Inflated Saladin, i
which, later on, poor Mr.. Powell los
5 his life; but these experiments were O
I; no very large scale. Captive balloon
are always more dangerous than fret
and can only be managed with any safe
" ty in calm or moderate weather. Fac
h balloon should be supplied with a para
" chute. On Sept. 81, 1902, Garneri
left his balloon at a height of three
n quarters of a mile from the earth. A
e first he descended with great velocity
but his descent became more gradua
o and in four minutes from the time b
1 quilted his ballon he landed gently an
safely or terra firma. Small parachu'
: es would also be found useful for low
ering sketches, reports, messages, et'
British Army and Navy Gazette.