Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-08-20

Many OF Them Used During tho
Siege OF Paris.
An Excellent Method OF Getting within
the Enemy's Lines-Ballooning Has
Since Become an Important Branch
of Military Study.

The last big European war taught
the French more about ballooning
than they would otherwise have
learned in generation. At the begin
ming of the war the government re-
jected many proposals from balloon
makers to construct q number Of war
balloons, but when they were shut up
in Paris they gladly turned to the bal
loon to help them. They turned all
their disused stations into balloon
factories, and sought the services of
the few experienced aeronauts then
available for the teaching of the use
and management Of the balloon to the
people. During four months GO bal
looms left Paris, of which number only
three have never been accounted for.
This is remarkable when it is remem-
bered that no lights were allowed in
the night ascensions, and the balloons
could only be sent up under cover Of
darkness.
One hundred and sixty persons, in
Guiding Gambetta, were carried safely
over the Prussian lines, and 2.500,0OO
letters were sent. The balloons also took
with them pigeons, which were sent
back to Paris with letters and dis
patches. The messages were written
and photographed down very small on
exceedingly thin paper. This was
rolled up, inserted in a quill and at
tached to the tail feathers of the
pigeon. When it was received in Paris
the photograph was put under mi
croscope and the message read. One
of the balloons, the Vile d'Orleans,
left Paris at II o'clock at night, and
arrived near Christiana, Norway, Is
hours later. having crossed the North
sen in it's remarkable voyage. Most of
the aeronauts were sailors, who were
chosen because of their familiarity
with the management and steering OF
boats at sea, and they proved very ca
pable. During the entire siege bal
looms formed the only means of COM
with the outside world for
the imprisoned inhabitants, and moth
ing could have taken their place.
Since then ballooning has been made
an important branch of military Study,
and the course through which the bal
looming corps has to pass is becoming
daily more scientific and severe. The
war balloon must be compact, always
ready for action, and very strong. 1t is
not large enough for two. 1t is always |
captiye-that is, it is secured to the
earth by cable. 1t is seldom emptied |
Of its gas, and is, therefore, always |
ready for action at moments notice.
The equipment of a balloon corps, be-
sides the balloon itself, consists essen
tally of two wagons, one large and |
heavy. somewhat resembling lum-
Der truck. and the other considerably |
smaller. The former is used to fusten
The balloon to. and is provided with
large reels containing about 1000
Yards of twisted wire rope. The
smaller wagon is filled with iron pipes
gas, and is technically
,alled thr tube wagon"
At the word Of command the balloon,
always inflated, is released, and bounds
Upward to the height of several hum
lred feet, uncoiling the rope after it.
The officer in the car takes up with him
maps Of the surrounding country and
ield glass. The position and arrange
nent of the enemy are marked down
m the maps with different colored
'encils, indicating cavalry, infantry,
etc. These marked maps are then
laced in leather bag, which is at
ached to a ring, which slides down the
able to the ground, where mounted
flicer awaits it, and carries the mes
age TO the general in command. Other
leans Of communicating the inforno-
ion have been tried, such as by tele-
hone and photography, but many
:ilcers still cling to the colored PEN
il method. which, they say, Is very