The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-10-29
7 J :
MILITARY BALLOONING IN ENG
LAND

The School of Military Ballooning at
Aldershot has become a noteworthy
and important institution; although
maintained by a grant of only 92,500 a
year, it stands second to none in its
scientific achievements. Originally
founded by the Royal engineers at
Woolwich, about nineteen years ago. it
was subsequently removed to Chatham
and thence to Aldershot, under Major
now Colonel, Templer, who has with
him Captain Jones, r.. f., and Captain
Ward, r. E. To these officers are due
the present state of efficiency OF the
establishment, and the perfection of the
balloons, as well as the appliances for
working them
The first important step in the adap-
tation Of the balloon for military pur-
poses was the compression in steel
tubes of the hydrogen for the imitation
of the balloons on the field or on the
road. Gasworks cannot be reckoned
upon on a line of march; nor can coal
or raw materials be transported so
handily or so cheaply as the tubes of
compressed gas. The hydrogen re-
quired must be Of the purest quality,
made from zinc and sulphuric acid,
Another improvement is the production
Of hydrogen by electrolysis. The trials
are progressing satisfactorily, and the
cleanliness and certainty of the dyna-
mo will undoubtedly prevail over the
chemical process. The compression of
the gas has advanced most markedly in
the direction Of safety and security. In
10 cta f,4of ,,i, t,,I,f
have been improved In material, and
rendered safe under the very great
stress of 101 atmospheres-at which
stress they are required to travel over
any and every sort of ground. The ex-
periences of many years have shown
that tubes must be carefully cleansed
before recharging, and very effective
precautions are taken to this end. To
carry the balloon charge of eleven
thousand cubic feet of gas in tubes
three wagons are needed, with the ex-
listing dimensions and weights of the
tubes; but when the new pattern tubes
and wagons are delivered two wagons
will suffice.
The adoption Of gold beater skins
for the substance of the balloon is a
step unequaled in Importance. These
skins have the property Of adhering
firmly together, so that they form a
homogeneous material remarkable for
its toughness, as well as being abso-
lutely impervious to the gas. So thor
oughly strong Is the material that a
closed balloon of large size has ascend
ed higher than seven thousand feet
without bursting. A large balloon Of
this substance, having twenty five hun
bred square feet of surface and capable
of containing ten thousand cubic feet
of gas, weighs only one hundred and
seventy pounds The top valve of the
balloon is now made very light and
strong, of an aluminium alloy, and is
screwed into it's bearing by very fine
thread. 1t fits perfectly gas tight. The
silk and cloth balloons Of former days
were always in some sort of trouble,
The fabric, being vanished, was read
lily subject to cracks. 1t often heated,
and became more or less charred; it
was tender and liable to be rent or torn.
The gas was always leaking away. and
the material was troublesome to repair
after small holes and grazes.
We have next to follow the large fin
ished balloon in it's final stages of rig
ging and equipment. The cord for the
netting has to be both very strong
and very light. That used is of Italian
hemp, and weighs one pound to the
hank. A yard of it with a splicing
stretched round two pulleys. will stand
five hundred pounds strain without
breaking. In this cord is woven fine
brass thread for the security of the BAH
loon in thunder storms. The ring is OF
American hickory, and the car Is
formed of excellent wicker-work. The
aeronaut or officer ascending with him
takes up what observing instrument
he likes or requires. Some of the hand
records taken in the free balloon excur-
sions are extremely precise and full of
serviceable details. The photographs,
| even those of small size, usually con-
tain details of value. Soldiers within a
range of two miles on each side of the
| line of flight can be detected with a
hand lens.
The coming trials of the capabilities
of balloons for taking part in military
| engineering operations in warfare will
be fraught with interest and novelty,
whether they be successful or not. The
first trials will probably be directed to-
wards the application Of captive and
carrying balloons in assisting or pre-
venting operations in trenches. The
ditch forms the protection to the work.
ing sappers; and the artillery projec-
tiles cut into the rear of the trench and
drive the debris to the rear of the work.
The object of a balloon attack, there
fore, might be to plant, say, five hun
dred-pound charge of high explosive in
rear of the trench, so that when explo-
ded it should blow the debris into it,
Overwhelming the men or exposing
them to their enemy. Every balloon
wagon has half a mile of wire rope at
| tached to it which Is available for hold
ing the balloon captive. There is also
! a telephone conductor; and the con-