New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
BALLOONS IN WAR.
NOVEL BATTLE IN CLoUDLAND NEATLY
THIRTY YEARS AGO


From The Baltimore Sun.
The announcement that the balloon Is des-
tined to play a role In the present war with
Spain recalls the aeronautic experiments made
by the French during the great war in 1870 and
1871. AS early az 1892 balloons were used for
military signalling in France. But in our times.
during the siege of Paris by the German troops.
frequent attempts were made by the French
men TO communicate with those inside the be-
leaguered city and to dispatch men and matter
from the capital by means OF balloons. In Paris
itself. under the direction OF Postmaster Ram
port balloon post and transport service were
established for carrying persons and Govern
mental as we'll private mail matter from the
besieged capital Among the public men leav-
ing the city in this way NJ. Gambetta will ever
be remembered Homing pigeons were also sent
by this route to carry news back to Paris
total OF siXty-siX balloons, according to Tissan
dier's En- Ballon Pendant lie Siege de Paris"
left the besieged city. and lGS persons lO.l9i
Kilograms Of postal matter, including 3.OOO.WO
letters. 3G3 homers > dogs and boxes Of
dynamite were dispatched by the aerial route.
Of the balloons - descended in France. > in
Belgium. in Holland. in Germany and | in
Norway. Only Of them were captured by the
Germans. and were never heard OF. having
been lost in the ocean.
OF all the voyages q that time. however. none
could compare for exciting and perilOus incident
with that Of the we'll known aeronaut NJ. Ma
dar. who left Tours for Paris with important
Government dispatches at o'clock one fine
December morning. At II o'clock ne was in
view Of the capital on the Seine While 1natlnS
about 500 metres above Fort Charenton. Ma
dar suddenly observed a second balloon on the
horizon Thinking il to be one leaving Paris
the French aeroUdut at once displayed the tri-
color Of his country. aud the other balloon re-
sponded by exhibiting the same flag. Grad
ually the two balloons approached one another.
being drawn in the same direction by the same
current II air When they were separated by
only a short distance several eXpl JsionS were
heard. The stranger had begun To fire shots
at Madras ballOon-thc Intrepide-which began
10 descend rapidly. The French flag had by
this time been replaced in the other balloon by
the Frussian colors The Parisians, vino were
watching the affair from the forts below, and
who now realized the true character and object
OF the last arrival cried out that their plucky
compairiot lost. But they were mistaken
Nadar had scrambled from the car UP the
network Of his airship after the first shot from
the enemy 10 stop a hole made in the tissue.
Presently he descended to the the balloon
righted itself. and. throwing out a guam ty OF
ballast. caused II to rise higher and higher. Then
Selling his rifle. he fired shots in rap
cession into the Prussian which suddenly split
and sunk 10 the earth. on reaching the ground
a detachment Of Thans. who had been watch
ing the combat from the plain. picked up the
German aeronauts and rode of TO the ~ ussian
outposts. Nadar then aghted in safety within
the girdle of the Paris forts.