The morning times., 1896-10-14
USING BALLOONS IN WAR
Gen. Greely,s Report on Some
Recent Experiments.
FLYING TELEGRAPH LINES
Their Use for Commercial Purposes
Has Been an Income to the Signal
Corps-The Captive Balloon at Fort
Logan-Aerial Navigation Dis
cussed by an Expert.

The annual report of Gen A. W. Greely,
chief signal officer of the army, shows
that the military telegraph lines have been
maintained in excellent condition during
the past year. Their efficiency has been
largely promoted by replacement by iron
telegra pin poles OF the wooden supports,
which are now almost wholly discarded.
While these lines were originally con
structed purely for military purposes, they
now largely subserve- commercial Interests.
Thecxtremelow tariff charge formessages,
averaging about 10 cents for ten words,
necessarily limits the revenue, neverthe-
less the cash receipt on account OF govern
menttollscollectedd duringt the yearamounted
to over Il per cent. OF the appropriations
for the operations OF the Signal Corps.
FLYING TELEGRAPH.
The system OF field or flying telegraphy,
initiated by the United States during the
War for the Union, has kept pace in its
development with the astonishing advances
OF electrical science. Other nations have
gradually adopted American methods. The
Japanese Army carried its flying telegraph
line into Seoul the day after its capture.
The late Italian campaign at Massowa,
the British Ashantee expedition and the
present advance on Dongpla alike exem-
plify the indispeusability of such military
lines. In the last case cablegrams intimate
that the nying telegraph line stopped at
the crossing OF the Nile for lack OF
cable, which is considered an essential
part OF the flying train Of the American
Army. --..
The addition of balloon section to the
field OF telegraph trains for the purpose
OF collecting and transmitting military
information, brings into special Import
ance the question OF aerial navigation.
BALLOONS IN WAR
Gen. Greedy acknowledges that the Sig
nal Corps, in eauippng a balloon section
for use in connection with each field tcle.
graph train, is simply ainplif ying the ideas
of Gen. FitZ John Porter enunciated early
in the war OF tie rebellion, but adds that
the United States, the first nation to use
balloons III war, as it was the first TO use
the electric telegraph and signal para
phernalia on the field OF battle, has been
outstripped as these ideas have been adopt
ed and improved By all other important
military powers. -.---t.
The future success of aerial navigation
in Gen. Greely's opinion, only awaits a
motor considerably lighter than those now
used. The successful experiments made by
Prof. Langley in flights with his aero
plane during the past year, would Indicate
that the solution OF this interesting and
important problem is not far. distant
Meanwhile the chief signal officer has
taken such action To place on an efficient
footing a model captive balloon section,
suitable as part Of the field train, as
facilities and appropriations have per-
mitted.
A balloon house, essential for economical
practice, has been authorized by the War
Department and is now in process OF con-
struction, and when complete will permit
of ascensions in all weathers. A special
estimate Of $4,000 is submitted for con-
struction and experiments with balloons.