The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-26
IN THE NEXT BIG WAR.
Armed Balloons May Play a PrOmi-
neuf Part.
From the Washington Star.


From the Washington Star.
The government is being worried by in
ventors ambitious to build all sorts of
queer airships for the defense of our do
main in case of war. Efforts are being
made by some of these to obtain money
from congress. 1t may be stated almost as
a sure thing that the first airship to be
launched in this country for practical
purposes will be a vehicle of war. Ad-
vocates of the army airship project are
divided in their opinions as to whether the
first vessel of the future aerial fleet should
be built on the principle of the dirigible
cigar-shaped balloon, or after the fashion
of Langley's purely mechanical aero
drome. Some believe that the practical
hility of the former has now been def
nitely demonstrated by the successful ex-
pertinent lately made in the west.
The government has been watching pro-
gress in aerial locomotion with increased
interest of late. 1t is the purpose of the
war department to get into the flying
business as soon as a safe machine can be
devised. In time of peace such a contriv-
ance would be employed in connection
with the signal service. There has been
talk of a soaring apparatus. a man-carry-
ing kite, and lately the office of military
intelligence obtained from abroad an elab-
orately illustrated description and plans of
a new military balloon kite The war de-
partment, however is ambitious to fly
rather than fioat-to enable our sailors of
the future aerial navy to advance upon or
retreat from hostile position in the sky.
rather than be hitched to a rope dangling
In reach of the enemy, or be waited about
among the clouds as the prey of a fclcle
wind.
An inventor who lately submitted to the
war department plans for an aerial war
ship on the elongated balloon principle re-
ceived in reply a note, which the writer
has seen. expressing the purpose of the
department to wait upon the progress of
Prof. Langleys experiments for the time
being.
A specialist in the employ of the gov
ernment who has for some years devoted
his attention to these problems, and who
has made several ascents, said the other
day to the writer: IF we had a we'll
equipped aerial battery, capable of plant
ing torpedo upon any warship, we might
be sure no nation on the face of the earth
would attack US, except by such a bat
terry. In such a case the advantage would
all be on the side of this country, for near
ly all upper air currents are from west
TO east, and any war vessel approaching
our coast from the Atlantic side would
be put to sleep long before it could get
its aerial outfit in working order"
Speaking of the practicability of flying
war battery on the balloon body princi-
pie, this specialist further said: 1.-THE size
of balloons needed for such batteries would
range from 10000 to 5000 cubic feet lift
ing 1000 and 5000 pounds, respectively
when fully charged. Such a vessel would
not be injured by almost any number Of
rife bullets as it is known that the bal
loon material closes down and prevents
serious loss by such openings. The aero
naut might need a bullet-proof jacket
but that is ALL Such a balloon could carry
dynamite enough to blow the best navy
out of the water. If it should be found
that there be a little uncertainty in strik-
ink a ship square, from 10000 feet, the
dynamite might be carried by cord 5000
feet long, and then dropped with abso-
lutte certainty.
"All the prominent nations except our
own have already begun and in the case
of France carried to a successful issue a
means of attack from the air. One thing
is certain, we can never hope TO hold our
own as a first-class power either on sea
or land, without an adequate aerial bat
terry. We must fight aerial battery bv
aerial battery. We are not alarmlsts, but
we must emphatically say that we are
far behind some Of the weaker powers
in these aerial experiments"
OF course the flying battery on the
Langley principle and that on the cigar
shaped or balloon principle would repre-
sent distinct and separate genera Of aerial
vehicles. The Langley craft Is OF course
the greater wonder by far-indeed the
greatest wonder OF the world
It's weight over all Is many times heav.
Ter than the air which is replaces. The
balloon body contrivance Is only a won.
der in respect TO It's ability to drive Itself
against the normal current Of tho otr
which the Langley machine can accom-
plish IN addition to It's other phenomena.
Theorists claim for the purely mechanical
airship that II VIII have the greater i'm.
munity against destruction from profec-
tiles, since projectile viii be able to pass
through its skeleton-lilSe aeroplanes and
wings without disabling ~. This immun.
lily may 10 some extent be enjoyed by tho
compartment balloon which consists OF
a plurality Of smaller balloons fitted 10.
gether like the sections OF an orange. Bur
the balloon. no matter how made. will De
more liable 20 destruction from below
than the mechanical aorodrome. an other
things being equal Experiments made
abroad. however. indicate that II painted
a pale sky blue 1t will hardly be visible
at great hight
II Is amusing 10 examine the number OF
inventions which have been submitted re-
Gently 10 the government by would-bo
solyers OF the military flying machine
problem. There are now IN The country
hundreds Of brains boiling az q terrific
rate By heat OF the midnight oil and dis
filing sensational aerial torpedo boats"
"acrial gunboats." aerial warshlps." ana
the ike. each of which, iu the projectors
opinion. win be sufficient to insure Qua
safety against a foreign power.
The history OF these 0ensationa. inyen-