The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-01
MILITARY BALLOONING.
WAR BALLOONS DIFFER FROM THE
COUNTY FAIR SORT.

AerOpRutics Have been Employed
10 Good Purpose in Recent Wars
The Air ship Which Uncle SAM
May Use.
New York, Apr; sO.--The balloon which
was raised at Fort wadsworth a week ago
is The first signal station of its kind In the
world. This balloon, which was sent up
under the direction of Ivy Baldwin the
noted aeronaut, files about 1 200 feet in the
air. From it's lofty position 1t commands
a splendid view of New York harbor, and
the officials that are stationed in the bal
loon can see fully fifty miles out to sea-
United States, or that part Of IL which be-
gins at New York harbor, is in no danger
of a surprise from Spanish warships
Other balloons are being made at the
United States balloon factories, and II the
Spanish become very saucy, these Will
soon fly all along the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts to be used as signal stations.
The Fort Wadsworth balloon which is
Of silk, is inflated with 1900 cubic feet OF
gas The balloon is forty feet in diameter
Below the balloon, and fastened to ID is n
basket large enough for four men. From
the basket a small cable runs to the
ground. This cable holds the balloon fast
and at the same time serves as a means
of communication. A wire runs down the
middle of the cable connecting a telephone
service between the basket and the
ground. The men stationed in the balloon
basket can ring the bell, call up the men
on the ground and tell them what is going
on at sea. Their eyesight Is bounded only
by the horizon and they can tell the mo-
ment a Spanish warship comes up over
the horizon line.
When these balloons are sent up, the ca
BILE is paid out very carefully. The bal
loon is not allowed to shoot up like
country picnic hight from the ground In
this way there is no strain upon II and IL
rises up in the clouds without damage TO
cable or occupants. II can be lowered
either by the balloon apparatus or by pull
ing in the cable. For the filing of the ball
loon steel tubes eighteen inches in dame
ter and four feet high are used. The gas
is compressed into this to one one-hun-
dred-and-twentieth of its natural volume.
great many people think that this is
the first instance in which the United
States army has lnade use Of balloons; but
this is not so. During the civil war one
OF the most daring aeronauts, La Noun
tame, went up in a balloon for Gen. Mctlei-
ian. His balloon rose from the north camp
of the Potomac and passed over Washing
ton. The ropes were then cut and La
Mountains rose up to the hight of a mile
and a half, over the enemy's lines. He
distinctly observed their position and
movements and when he had taken in the
situation he threw out the ballast from
the balloon and went TO the hight OF three
miles. AS soon as he reached a favorable
air current he went along to the coast OF
Maryland and returned In safety Gen.
Mcclellan was so pleased with the obser-
walton that the war department received
instructions to have balloons provided.
With the declaration OF peace, however
the use Of balloons was practically discon-
tinued, few only being stationed here and
there for experiment
The use of the balloon In Germany Is a
varied one. The German Emperor Is on
the lookout for war; as every one knows
and, should Germany ever engage in A
combat with civilized nation, il Will be
fully prepared for war marvels The Ger
man Emperor's proudest balloon Is the
Kaiser Wilhelm. This balloon has been
used. up to this day, only for bridge pur-
poses, but it is very useful thus. If a reg
iment of soldiers desire to cross a river
where there Is no bridge, the balloon is
sent up with great many ropes dangling
from II. One of the soldiers grasps a rome
and swings himself across the river. He
then fastens the rope securely on the other
side of the stream. The balloon Is then
pulled back and the soldiers grasp it and
e.x,rf.,r ftae,. Oh r..
whole regiment can pass over a river in
an incredibly short space of time. and by
a method which looks like magic to the
enemy.
Any athletic man can swing by his arms
for a period Of three or four minutes, or
long enough for a swift balloon TO carry
him over a river, and those who cannot
swing in this way can secure a rope
around his waist.
If the balloon, after being used. Is cum
bersome the air can be let out OF It and
IL can be buried until such time as the
army returns to get It,.
The balloon which went up the other day,
on Columbia Hill In the Orange noun
tains, is one that was made for the United
States 10 use in offensive operations. This
balloon is fitted with four guns, each ca
pa'ble OF sending a powerful shell into the
enemy's ranks. 1t has also quick steer
ing apparatus which enables IL to dart
into the smoke over the enemy's camp, fire
the shell and dart out again. 1t requires
the utmost presence OF mind TO manipu-
late It property. but old soldiers say they
would feel much safer In such a balloon
mile above the ground, than In regi-
mont face to face with the enemy.
There are now being built several dyna-
nit balloons which are to run up without
any passengers These balloons contain
little batteries set for from one to five
minutes II the air current is very swift.
and the enemy is very near. the balloon is
timed for one minute. II Is then released
and away Il goes floating over the enemy's
camp. Al the end Of one minute the
shell explodes and falls down upon the
heads Of the enemy below. These little
dynamite balloons are self-destroying and
they break in the discharge Of the she'll.
A balloon that is now under considera-
ton by the government Is a sort OF air
torpedo. 1t can be directed with as much
accuracy as a submarine torpedo II has
a carrying capacity of 1000 pounds Of ex-
plosives. The discharging Of this does
not subject the attacking party to any
he r rait