Evening star., 1896-01-11
BALLOONS IN WAR TIMES.

During the Siege of Paris Sixty-Six
Ascended From the City.
From the Chicago Record.
The last big European war taught the
French more about ballooning than they
would otherwise have learned in a genera
ton. At the beginning of the war the gov
ernment rejected many proposals from bal
lccn makers to construct number OF war
balloons, but when they were shut up in
Paris they gladly turned to the balloon to
help them. They turned all their disused
stations into balloon factories, and sought
the services Of the few experienced aero
nauts then available for the teaching Of the
use and management of the balloon to the
looms left Paris, of which number only three
have never been accounted for. This Is re-
markable when it is remembered that no
lights were allowed in night ascensions, and
the balloons could only be sent up under
cover Of darkness.
One hundred and sixty persons, including
Gambetta, were carried safely over the Prus-
sian lines, and 2,500,0OO letters were sent.
The balloons also took with them pigeons,
which were sent back to Paris with letters
and dispatches. The messages were writ
ten and photographed down very small on
exceedingly thin paper. This was rolled up.
inserted In quill, and attached to the tail
feathers of the pigeon. When 1t was received
in Paris the photograph was put under
microscope and the message read. One of
the balloons, the Vile d'Orleans, left Paris
at IL o'clock at night, and arrived near
Christiana, Norway, fifteen hours later, hav-
ing crossed the North sea in it's remarkable
voyage Most of the aeronauts were sail
ors, who were chosen because of their
familiarity with the management and steer
ing or boats at sea, and they proved very
capable. During the entire siege balloons
formed the only means Of communication
with the outside world for the imprisoned
inhabitants, and nothing could have taken
their place.
Since then ballooning has been made an
important branch of military study, and the
course through which the ballooning corps
has to pass Is becoming daily more scientific
and severe. The war balloon must be COM
pact, always ready for action, and very
strong. 1t Is not large enough for two. 1t
Is always captive-that is, 1t is secured to
the earth by a cable. 1t is seldom emptied
of Its gas and is, therefore, always ready
for action at moments notice. The equip
ment of balloon corps, besides the balloon
itself. consists essentially of two wagons,
one large and heavy, somewhat resembling
a lumber truck, and the other considerably
smaller. The former is used to fasten the
containing about 1000 yards of twisted wire
rope The smaller wagon IS filled with iron
pipes containing gas, and is technically
called the tube wagon"
At the word of command the balloon al
ready inflated, is released and bounds up-
ward to the height of several hundred feet,
uncoiling the rope after It. The officer in
the car takes up with him maps of the sur
rounding country and a field glass; The DO
sition and arrangement of the enemy are
marked down on the maps with different
colored pencils indicating cavalry infantry,
etc. These marked maps are then placed in
leather bag, which is attached to a ring,
which slides down the cable to the ground,
where mounted officer awaits it, and car
r1es the message to the general in command.
Other means of communicating the infor-
nation have been tried such as by tele-
phone and photography, but many officers
which. they say, is very sure and effective.