The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-11

would be recognized as one or the most
distinguished authorities in that branch
of schenectady
Although we had thoroughly estab-
lished the usefulness Of captive ooser-
walton balloons during our civil war;
and although almost all European ma
tions have since organized ~aeronautl"
cal corps and equipments, the United
States was almost destitute Of this inn
portant attendant upon modern armies
upon the outbreak Of hostilities.
There was one military lilo at
Fort Logan, near Denver, as an adj
junct to the signal corps under Capt.
w. A. Glassford. This balloo was
spherical, made of silk, and was said
to have a capacity of about $4,000 cubic
feet, with a lifting power of 500 pounds.
1t was equipped with only two wagons,
one to carry the balloon and its bask-
ct. as well as the cable and reel which
controlled it in ascensions, and the 9th
er to carry the steel storage tubes
which contain the hydrogen gas requir-
ed for one or two ascensions. Tit
French and German equipments con-
sist of eight wagons or more.
The intention was to operate this
J dllbbH WIFI al part VI Alt uttoNAiiitiA
of field telegraph and telephone SER
Woo. which con .'Strd of three sci - 4 -
and Is enlisted men, but they got very
little practice, because it was found
impossible TO obtain from congress-, in
spite of much urging, the necessary
appropriations to procure other requir-
ed equipments, so that il was only last
year that a plant was set up to make
hydrogen. and a barn built, at a cost
80 Ef lnn q. Ghn1tnr tho balloon when
inflated. Therefore, as a result of bad
/ congressional judgment, we had when
the war broke out only one military
balloon, i'll equipped and almost no men
trained in its complicated
When trouble seemed to be impend-
ing. il was stated in the newspapers
I March 24) that Gen. a. w. Greeley,
chief signal officer Of the army, was
urging upon the secretary of wal the
! employment Of balloons both for army
and naval Observations. Early In April
the military balloon at Fort Logan
was ordered to Fort W~adsworth, New
York harbor, together with Sergeant
Guy Baldwin, the w~ell-known aeronaut,
to spy out the coming of the Spanish
fleet. Some ascensions were made. but
il is believed that the only discoveries
were some insuficiencies In the equip
ment, for about that time a party of
six French scientists, led by NJ. A. VAR
icle. arrived in New York, together
with a cylindrical balloon sent by the
French geographical society to explore
the Klondike and TO search for Andre,
il possible. These gentlemen entered
into communication with the govern
ment authorities, and the latter order
ed two balloons from France, which
arrived about the last of May, and
were ordered 70 Tampa in charge OF
Cant. ]. r. Maxneld. No description
has been published Of these balloons,
but It may be said in passing that the
most steady military balloon is proba-
bly, the German kite balloon" social
ed. which resembles a thick sausage,
( provided with an air pocket or kite at
the rear. which becomes inflated by
the wind and confers upon the appar-
atus very great stability.
At the same time Carl Myers of
Balloon farm" near Frankfort, n. Y.
quilt for the government more than 20
balloons, one of them a large one, and
some of the others captive naval bal
looms, which would have saved some
anxious days at Santiago If they had
been provided in advance. These naval
balloons are raised from the deck, and
they have been found SO useful in
watching the horizon for ships and in
the possible detection of an approach
ing torpedo (the observer sees deep
under water) that II is understood that
the German and French squadrons are
now equipped with one or more, with
their necessary appurtenances.
Owing to the Hardness of our prep
arations but one OF these balloons
came into operation. This was the one
at Santiago, which all the reporters
are agreed proved to be of the great
est service during the two days that
1t was Up. by keeping General Shafter
constantly and accurately advised oil
I the nnSitinn and mnVnnnFnfs of the
enemy. 1t was. however. hampered
with great Disadvantages. 1t had to bt
raised in the "chaparral' Of thick
bushes, and in the midst Of the field of
action, so that IL brought the enemy's
fire upon our troops. Ii assembled but
about 1000 feet. in onsequenc of tho
shortness Of the rope. the detail of mer
who controlled il could not operate Il
advantage, and finally il was riddlec
with shots, so that Il fell into a stream
In the neighborhood. II is said to have
been mounted by three men, one OF
whom vas a t~elegrapher, and it II
very much TO be hoped that some com
petent pen will furnish a scientific rec
ord Of these operations.
; Now that the war is probably over
the country has the equipment, and /
seems to be Of great Importance tina
, It shall be utilized by organizing {
special corps to train men i'm its use
and tactics.
These tactics are as yet but partially
developed. They consist. first, in tn,
, complicated maneuvers required to in
! fate and rig up the balloon in the field
which require such precision and min
ute precautions that even civil aero
naut frequently prefer to perform
> them by military word of command
Then, the gradual ascension Of the cap
tive requires great concert of actor
, and watchfulness: for the wind be
gins TO buffet il and the enemy begin
, TO shoot. For these reasons II seem
most desirable that the balloon shouli
be inflated and raised out of the hel'
Of action. or one side. or at the rear
as the ground permits. and then h
tcNed into position either by its attend
ing cable wagon or by a detail of mer
: or by both. Moreover. its attitude an
lOpa zion ShDulH he rDpsfapt1N Narie,