The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-27
Rumors of War in Poland.

| Especial TO THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch
WARSAW, March 26.-Rumors of war fill
the air here and they are given the ap-
pearance of truth by the presence in Poland
of an immense number OF soldiers, who
have been gathered from many parts of the
Russian dominions. 1t may be, however,
thatithis massing of troops is not for often
siye purposes, but merely with the object OF
preparing for the usual spring maneuvers,
but the proximity of these large bodies of
troops to the Prussian frontiers, whatever
the object OF the military authorities may
be, causes general feeling of uneasiness
that the least spark may start confagra-
ton, the results of which no one can fore
tell.
This feeling of anxiety has been added to
by the fact that the German authorities
are evidently taking steps to learn from
personal observation the strength and dis
position of the Russian force. They are
not trying TO learn these facts
ordinary spies, but are using
balloons as the means to attain their object.
OF late, in fact ever since the reports cir
culated OF the arrival in Poland of large
nun bers of Russian troops, several bal
looms which came from the German from
tier have been seen lowering over the Rus
sian tortresses and camps. These balloons
are believed here to form part of au extern
Sive German balloon spy service. Recently
balloon was floating above the fortress
at hovno, and so certain were he officers
stationed there that the object of the bal
loonlsts was to learn military secrets, that
orders were given TO fire upon the balloon
Notwithstanding the long range of the
modern rife, it was impossible to hit the
/ balloon, which was at a very high altitude,
and It's occupants by means of glasses pur-
sued their investigations entirely undis-
turbed by the bullets aimed in their direc-
ton. A close watc was kept upon the
balloon, and the watchers were surprised
TO find that 1t appeared TO be under perfect
control. After lowering above the fort
ress for little time, it returned to the
German frontier, its occupants evidently
having ga ned the knowledge they sought
for.
A more surprising incident occurred a
few days ago at Dombrowice, eighty four
miles west of Warsaw. Here balloon was
seen that gave q fat contradiction 10 the
belief that aerial navigation is mostly, if
not entirely. matter of wind currents
This balloon made its appearance sailing
against the wind, which at the time was
blowing q fresh breeze. When it had
reached a point above the military camp it
stopped for time and then Unanswered in
a manner that showed it was provided
with highly perfected steering apparatus
The Russian military authorities believe,
and the handling OF the balloons that have
appeared over Russian territory gives good
grounds Tor their belief, that France and
Germany possess an efficient batlocn-steer-
ing apparatus that will render balloons an
important factor in warfare The possibili-
ties of balloons in war have often been
discussed, and if it proves true that it is
possible to SEND them in any direction de-
sired, q new and most dangerous element
will have to be guarded against by the
commanders of armies. This will prove a
most perplexing problem, for at present
there is no possible way of protecting sol
diers in the field from fire directed upon
them directly from above by an enemy who
is safely beyond rife range.