The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-06
BALLOON TORPEDOES.
A New French Invention that Promises {
RevolutiOnize the Art Of War.

New French Invention that Promises to
RevOlutiOnize the Art Of War.
Paris Special.
The Paris papers yesterday published de-
scription Of a reported invention of the aeronaut
NJ. GODDARD, which, if what is said should
be realized is likely to revolutionize modern
warfare The invention in question is an aerial
torpedo boat of 5000 cubit feet, which can be in
fiated in fifteen minutes steered and stopped at
the caprice of the balloonist and capable of
avoiding the shot and shell Of the enemy 1t is
SO constructed that it could hurl ton weight of
explosives on an army with impunity.
The aeronauts with whom your correspondent
discussed the invention were inclined to regard
..aa most of M Godar6s reported statements as
nonsense. 1t was inconceivable, said one author
ity, that balloon of the kind described could be
made so light as to rise above cannon range and
yet be able to carry anything like ton weight
of explosives. Besides, he went ON to say, even
granting that NJ. GODDARD had the delightful free
dom of movement which he says he has, it is alb
surd to talk of hurting huge proiectiles on an
army. A few bottles Of nitro -glycerine would
suffice.
Mr. Frederick Cover, replying to question
of your correspondent, said: IN. Godards tor
pedo balloon appears to include principle for
which is the chief point at issue in the whole
question Of ballooning. / know nothing of the
special means he proposes to employ, but the
ends which he hopes to attain require efficiency
and a certainty of action beyond anything so far
seriously claimed that has been invented to my
knowledge"
Rumors of an invention by Mr.. Cover having
already come to yonr correspondents ears he
pressed that gentleman to give the details. Mr.
Cover made the following statement: 1T is
fPuo I have ted a hal
aerial torpedo boat, mind-which l trust will
bring the existing systems of warfare to close
This, at least is my prime object l cannot yet
explain my method fully. am certain how
ever, that by utilizing current of wind at an
ascertained level in a known direction, and
maintaining my aerial torpedoes on that level by
automatic means and launching them in great
numbers and in quick succession, a terrible loss
could be inflicted on an advancing army. In
deed, it might be wholly destroyed The mere
arising of a particular current of wind would
bring an army the certainty of disaster in the
absence of any power to reply to the attack.
"The fact that an attack is equally easy by
night or day. and that the machines themselves
frequently travel at height at which their ap
proach would be undetected even in broad day
light, could not fail to affect the morale OF the
most seasoned and disciplined soldiers. The
idea of aerial torpedoes in some form is not my
own. only claim for given problem pract-
cal solution. Since the Austrian attack on Ven
ice in 1849 all great powers have studied the sub
iect The difficulty always has been that to
maintain the machines in air long enough to
cover the ground over which it is required to
travel, 1t has been necessary 20 give them such q
buoyancy at the start that they rose to a height
at which they were liable either to lose the wind
or encounter a cross current, bringing them
back upon their senders.
10 be efficient balloon torpedoes must be able
to keep afloat at least half an hour. give mine
just sufficient buoyancy to keep them at the level
at which to travel Their tendency to fall Is re
sisted by an automatic discharge of their own
ballast till the tendency is checked. This con-
tinues till the ballast is exhausted"
HAS anything similar ever been invented be-
fore, asked the correspondent
! My friend NJ. CASTOR Tssandier" answered