The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-19

Ouiteu Stateo, Colonel Duchemin, the
French ensineer. n Mr.. Maxim. have
convinced many intelligent men OF the
practicablity OF aerial navigation by
airships heavier than air. The future
success OF such navigation now awaits
a motor considerably lighter than those
at present In use. 1t may be that the
successful experiments made by Pro-
fessor Langley In flights with his aero
plane Indicate that the solution OF this
Interesting n important problem Ia
not Car distant.
am firmly convinced. however. that
own experiments VIII prove, even
IL we have small opportunity to act
In the matter beyond the stage OF
experiment. that the balloon must be
classed among the mightiest engines of
war. Certainly its utility cannot be
questioned by anyone who thoroughly
understands 1t. Our own field train has
been in operation at Fort Logan. Col,
under the supervision of Capt. w. A
Glassford OF the Signal corps. The bal
loon In of silk and of $4,000 cubic feet
capacity. Then there is a balloon wag-
on. with cable drum, captive cable and
accessories complete. four tube wagons
and accessories. one service wagon, a
gas generating apparatus. a compress
sor for impounding gas in tubes, n
$50 steel tubes In which gas Is COM
pressed to one-hundredth or one-hun
dred-and-twentieth of it's value.
The ideal balloon for war purposes is
not simply one in which observers may
rise to a considerable height. look down
on the enemy and then wait until a re-
turn to earth Is made to report, but
one in which constant communication
can be maintained between the aero
al and their friends below. This OF
course is only applicable to the captive
alloo and / do not intend to convey
the idea that 1t applies otherwise. The
communication must be brought about
l-~..-I ~..h tod
captive cable. this being the one now
in use by the English balloon corps. 1t
ought TO be possible for a balloon to
rise 1900 feet and for the signal officer
from this point of vantage to commu-
nicate by telephone either with the
train base or over the flying telegraph
line with the commanding general. We
have tried q series of these expert
ments at Fort Logan and met with
pronounced success.
am not attempting to deny In any
way the advantage of the %dirigible bal
loon, meaning by that a balloon when
can be governed. directed or steered.
In the event Of a desire to take nautl-
cal observations from q balloon. dirigi-
bility would, of course, be an absolute
necessity. and In that event we would
be obliged to dispense with any COM
munication with the earth below. 1
firmly believe that the day is not far
distant when 1t will be entirely possible
for balloons to Journey a dozen miles
out at sea with perfect safety, ana act
in a measure as sentinsls to warn those
on shore of the approach of an enemy
long before that enemy would other
wise be visible No shin, no steamer,
could possibly return with intelligence
of the coming of the foe with any thing
like the speed with when the balloon
could journey.
In military operations ii seems TO me
the captive balloon is the most prac-
ticable. This was the view taken ut the
time of the social disturbances in chi
cago several years ago. The command
ing general at that point requested
that the military balloon now ut Fort
Logan, then stationed at Fort Riley,
Kas., hould be sent there, n indeed
preparations to that end were made,
but the lessening of the u rem
dered the action unnecessary. General
Miles realized at that time that the use
of a military captive balloon in a great
city would afford exceptional Val
ages for observing the movements of
hostile forces. which, even FROM the
tops of the highest buildings, are other
wise hidden from observation, save
when they cross streets AZ right angles
to the point OF observation.
With a balloon say 1000 feet i'm the
air. not only the presence bu. The line
of action of such bodies car be Cb-
served, followed and information there
of be transmitted by telephone balloon
cable to the commanding general. who
would thus be able to move without
loss of time in the shortest line suit
able bodies of troops to ~checnmlta p's-
sible movements. Under present con-
ditions, being forced to wait until re-
ports Of actual violence ar" made, the
troops are harrassed and fatiSued by
marching long distances to points
Ill H. H. go L.. 800 sA, - -
the damage having been done. / think
IL Is plain to any one that the Utility
of the captive balloon in such cases is
very great.
In great measure the case would be
similar in military operations in The
field. Let us suppose that The cam
paign was taking place I'm a wooded. or
mountainous section. Under such cir
cumstances the only Information which
could be gained, following the ordinary
tactics. would be by means of scouting
parties, the most reliable of which are
always uncertain. II n balloon tam
were attached to a telegraph corps. aus
II Is in our army. the balloon could be
allowed to rise a distance of a half
mile, practically beyond reach Of the
cannon owing to the n%on-utility Ct ar
tillery for bombarding the heavens TO
shell the balloon. 1t is true that 1t
might be possible for a rifle ball To
reach that distance. bu the chances Of
being hit would be very small, and
a properly protected balloon would be
impervious to a rifle shot at that
height.
From this height of vantage, the
enemy's lines and position would be nb-
served In detail. Therefore l say that
the future of the balloon in warfare In
very great. The obstacles of other days
have largely been removed. and the
paraphernalia required to successfully
operate a balloon train can he trans
ported with the army with less trouble
than IL required to move a battery of
artillery. A. w. GREELEY.
Chief Signal officer. ". =. a.
Operated IN n Tiger.
From the London Chronicle.
par Cap,rar Ir,-u rh Ala a..