The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-08

as LIN the
Cuban War

T When Spaniah soldiers see string Of
kitos flying between them and the Amer
ican camp. they probably will wonder
what manner Of an enemy has come
from the north to fight them. Il may
be they will draw Z bead on the kites
with their Mausers. but unless the bull
let's strike the sticks of every one Of the
aerial tandem team the little square
box swinging on its platform from the
string will do its work and will deliver
70 the commanding officer Of the expe-
dition q photograph which will betray,
all that can be seen from an elevation
Of several hundred feet.
Kites will be practically and thor
oughly tested for signaling and photo
graphing the enemy position when the
American army gets to Cuba. Several
years experimenting has shown con-
clusively that the kite can be employed
to good advantage in warfare. Lieuten-
ant Hugh d. Wise of the Ninth infan-
try, . crack bicyclist, scientific and
enthusiastic amateur photographer, has
made study of aeroplanes and has
brought with him eight kites with
complete signaling and aerial photo
graphing equipment, which will be put
in active service as soon as the army Of
occupation lands ON Cuban or Puerto.
Rican soil.
This equipment consists of eight Wise
Eddy folding kites, one y feet high,
two s feet, two Z feet, two 0 feet and
one 3 1f feet. The kites are so construct
ed that they can be rolled up in bun
die, occupying less space than "a foot
tent, with its poles and fly. The kites
are made of black, white and black and
white cambria, some of them being white
with black center In the outfit are 10
regulation signal flags, with code stats,
5000 feet OF cord of several sizes, q
portable field windlass, q by 8 inch
camera, with Wise automatic camera
operator--a clockwork device--a Wise
aerial camera support, rings and pulleys,
and other attachments sufficient for the
purpose Of signaling and field photog-
raphy.
Everything in this field equipment
has boen put to hard, practical test,
and it is believed the outfit will prove
of great value in Cuba. In practice from
three to five kites will be flown in tan
dem, the tandem string serving to sup
port the signal flags or camera A pull
ley is attached to the tandem cord or
kite string and through this pulley an
endless cord is run. II the kites are to
be used for signaling, two code stats
are used, and they are attached to the
endless cord In such fashion that while
onei is up supporting the signal flags the
other is on the ground where the signal
flags are attached or hooked on. This
contrivance permits the signal man to
send up his bunting rapidly and easily.
The code or flag STATS are fixed so that
four flags may be quickly hooked ON.
This allows the flags to be hooked ON to
the code STATS in such order as TO indi-
cate the numerals which represent the
letters in the Meyers code used in the
army and navy. Thus white flag indi-
Gates the numeral I, a red flag the nu-
neral Q and five flags represent the
numeral 3.
Lieutenant Wise sdes that an altitude
of 500 feet is high enough to send the
signal flags, though they may be lifted
to any desired height. This apparatus
has be IN tested, and with it Lieutenant
Wise has signaled with the flags, using
the telescope, distance Of seven miles.
This gives q wide range, for ordinary
flags Of the size used with the kites
could not be used at that distance. At
night red and white lanterns are used
instead of flags, and an electric light
system, similar to the Ardoise system
1sed in the navy, can be used. With
electricity the system for signaling diff
fers from that used with lanterns A
white light burns brilliantly and con-
stantly, so as to indicate the where
abouts Of the aerial station to the re-
ceiving station.
Near it is white and red incan-
descent electric light, operated by keys
on the ground and connected to the
keys by an insulated cord wire, which
runs through the pulley. Two red
lights represent the numeral j, red
and white the numeral 2, and two
whites and q red the numeral 3. In
this way all the combinations which
apply to the Meyers code can be secur-
ed. Lieutenant Wise also has device
by which lanterns and flags can be op-
Grated somewhat after the manner Of
the electric light signal system. This ap-
paratus is so arranged that the positions
Of the lanterns and flags can be changed
without hauling thecode staff to the
ground, something after the style of tho
Eemaphore used in railroad block and
signal systems.
Kite photography is done by means Of
a camera which is carried ON a plat
form. The platform hangs from ring
which slides over the tandem line. This
ring also is attached to the cord Of a
kite which is used solely for the purpose
of pulling the platform up the tandem
cord to stop which prevents the ring
sliding higher. When 1t is desired to
take photograph. the camera Is placed
ON the platform, and the clockwork ap-
paratus used for operating the shutter
Is set for certain number Of minutes.