The San Francisco call., 1897-03-19

used by an army which is on campaign,
and with satisfactory results. But when
thev have returned to the earth with no
news, occasions often noted in the history
OF military operations. reat discourage
ment has overtaken the officers who nave
employed them. Accordingly there IS
demand for an ideal balloon for military
purposes.
But the common or "indirielble' air.
ship has not yet been replaced with one
which can be so generally useo. Inc
''dirigible'' gasbag cannot be sent upon
desired course except IN calm weather.
Experts are thus thrust back on the
common kind, which is now pretty we'll
understood and which can be moved,
within narrow limits, at the will of the
aeronaut. The flying machine is still to
come forth from its nest in the laboratory
or the workshop. Compelled then, as the
military aeronauts are, to study up their
possible opportunities under such restrc-
tions, they must give their attention to
the means by which the free or the cap
tive or the "dirigibie" balloon can be
same time they are forced to provide
against the danger which threatens the
alrshlp from missiles sent after it.
Just as there is contest always going
on between armor and proiectiles, so
another is proceeding between balloons
and field ordnance. Some noteworthy re-
suits have already been achieved, as has
eeen pointed out, by recon noitering from
balloon cars. Achievements have also
followed the efforts to "wing" the airships
and one of Them, chronic icled only last week.
requires comment.
The experiment took place at Shoebury-
ness, where there is school of gunnery
for the British army. The ordnance offi-
GERS who conducted it had already demon
stated that balloon m light be hit and
collapsed by a small shot at an altitude
of a mile, but they had been unable to
effect the destruction of the airship with
out the expenditure of many rounds. The
best gunners previous to last week had
reached the target at little less than
mile nigh, but only at the nineteenth shot
Last week captive balloon was sent up
20C0 yards. The gunners were not in
formed as to the altitude, and when
ordered TO fire were required to discover
the range. The first shot proved that they
had the range. They were using fifteen
pound field pieces, nevertheless, and SO
had 10 allow for a reasonable trajectory
and deviation. At The fourth discharge
the balloon was struck. With the sew nth
the globe collapsed. The military officers
were so we'll pleased that they proceeded
at once to claim that military ballooning,
except 10 carry dispatches, had received q
fatal setback. Their proposition has
naturally disturbed the advocates OF
balloon reconnoitering, and is now being
discu usSed pro and con with some heat both
in England and on the Continent.
Ii is unnecessary to conclude that either
the artillerists or the aeronauts take the
correct view of this experiment. The cir
cumstance that an airship has been DEM
onstrated to have no immunity from de-
struction at distance of over a mile from
the earth is. however, of no little signlti-
canoe. In this case the target was sta
tionary, but even if it had not been the
gunners would have been able to throw
shot all about it. A "dirigi ale'' balloon,
moving at its greatest speed, which is from
fifteen 10 twenty miles an hour, would
have been subject to the same misfortune.
Yet the military experts are all demand
ing, since they cannot have perfect fly
ing-machine, that the war balloon be
connected with the earth by telephone
wire. Such a means of communicating
with the man in the car above implies the
stationary character OF the gasbag to a
great degree. But in these days when,
on account of the long-range capacity OF
all weapons, armies are not often brought
to close quarters, the aerial reconnoiter-
ing party will not always, II generally,
succeed in making valuable observations
unless the airship rises TO great height.
Until balloon reaches lofty altitude
it can therefore make little progress in
discovering the movements OF the enemy.
Moreover, it is unsafe for its occupants as
long as it is within at least mile and an
eighth of the ground. When it is higher,
if the enemy can turn heavy field ordnance
upon it, it is less unsafe, but rot out of
danger. If it is set free, unless the wind
is right, or unless it is 'dirigib ble," in
which latter case there must be especially
favorable weather, it is still sure to become
a target for gunners in the other army.
The use OF smokeless powder also in
creases the danger, since 1t will be impos-
sible for the party in the car to know
whether they are being moved within the
range OF fire until it is perhaps too late to
get out of it in safety. When. too, the
enemy may use simitar means to secure
Information, the prospect of deriving ad-
vantage from the utilization OF this very
advanced method of reconn offering is rem
dered small, unless a perfect. an ideal,
balloon or flying machine is discovered
Providence Journal