Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-05
A DESTRUCTIVE COMBINATION.
balloons and Torpedocs Harnessed
Together 81 Match for u
Fleet.
From the New York World.

ffCIn the New \ Ork W Orlu.
y marvellous fighting machine. combin-
ing all the advantages of the airship and
torpedo boat, has been designed recently
by = French naval engineer. This unique
machine, its inventor believes. will be
able TO vanquish an entire squadron OF
battieships single handed. It is to consist
of :; fleet of submarine torpedo boats har-
messed to a balloon. which is to direct
their attacks from a position high above
the range of the enemy's guns. The plan
is said to be thoroughly consistent with
the laws OF submarine and aerial engineer
ing. according to the inventor. Mr.. q. l..
IeSCe. and the designs have been approved
by the French Society of Civil Engineers.
The aerial submarine COntrivanCe viii
make ii possible to attack warships below
the water line and from above at the same
time. without giving them an opportunity
TO defend themselves. The opinion has
been gaining ground among the best naval
experts that the submarine torpedo boat
H. probably the most effectual means of
attacking 4 man-of-war. The chief OBJ
lection TO their use has been that the
sui marine boats were blind. and, there
fore. always more or less clumsy. on the
othei hand, the balloon, although it may
command a view Of an entire fleet. is diff
flrUlt to steer, and cannot he dependcd
upon to keep a desired position Mr. Pesce
claims that hy simply combining these
qualities the ideal lighting machine may
be realized.
In the plans already prepared only ;he
ordinary forms of submarine torpedo boat
and balloon are used. The advantages Of
such q combination are. Of course. perfectly
Obvious. Submarines boats are. for cx-
ample, furnished with optical tubes but
these outlooks are only few feet abo=e
the water and are often hidden by the
waves. In contrast 10 these Il position in
T! - balloon would enable one to observe the
enemy with accuracy. II is proposed to
| have an electrical connection established
| between the balloon and every one Of a
| fleet OF these torpedo boats. Messages NAV
| hc sent instantly in this way to every one
Of these marine moleS.' In other words
! the balloon may he said to drive this leat
| Of these torped" boats. y man occupying
| this vantage point may. 10y simply taurn-
! ing n keyboard. govern the speed or direc-
| tion each boat shall take.
| The correcting cable Will be used to
j transmit olectTi" energy from tho boats to
! the airship which will enable the air craft
Ia move about al will. The cables will also
! serve TO drag the balloon along after the
! Ioats ana thus keep it in Il position above
| the fleet The plan of controlling torpedoCI
| from q fort or even from Il vessel has many
/ disadvantages. At present it is practically
/ impossible 10 do NOR. than send one of
! these boats backward or forward. IT, how
| ever the person directing their action could
| occupy position $50 or 6OJ yards above the
| sea. it would he possible to move. these
torpedoes in all directions. They might be
| spread out in the form Of an immense Fan
| or made to completely surround Il large
| ilect and attack it from all sides at once
| VI. Pescc claims that in this way it woull
| be possible to hold the eneny's fleet ut such
| distance from the coast that the range
| Of their guns would be unable to do any
| damage TO the cities.