New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
TWO VIEW WAR BALLOONS.
TALK OF USING THEM 10 DETERMINE
POSITIVELY WHETHER OR not GER
VERA IS IN SANTIAGO HARBOR


There were shipped to Governors Island yes,er-
day from tho pier OF the French Line steamers two
big balloons and their equipments. which the Gov
eminent has purchased for use in Army operations.
They were obtained from tho French manufacturer
OF balloons. and proprietor Of the captive balloon
In Paris. Maurice Mnet. 81. Male. IL also In this
country with Antony varice. both OF them we'll
known aeronauts. and II Is likely tina. their ser
vices will be secured in connection with tho OF
balloons In military operations In Cuba and Porto
Rico. and possibly In the Philippines. They came
here last week VI. Malict has made no less ,han
three hundred and nifty ascenslons. and is regarded
as accomplished aeronnut In all respects Tho
balloon used by Andree was bull, by him IN con-
junction with II Lachambre. OF Paris VI. Vartclc
organized the balloon party which wen, TO the
Klondikc bu; which he did not accompany
The balloons purchased by tho Government ere
known as war balloons. They will hold Us cubic
metres OF hydrogen gas each. and arc made OF a
fne quality OF pongee silk. covered with elastic var
nish. 1t takes from two 20 three weeks TO vsrnish
a balloon properly, three coats OF varnsh are
laid on and each has to dry before the additional
coat can he put on. In conjunction with the usual
support for the aeronauts baske, by a network Of
ropes centring beneath the rssbag. each military
balloon has additional supports In equatorial ropes
attached 10 the circumference OF tho balloon ut s
largest part. These will sustain tho basket II tho
central ropes should be severed by n shot. and NJ
fori a double support. with each balloon IL a steel
cable for keeping II captive attached 10 n reel.
which Is on wagon for easy movement when the
balloon Ia aloft. BY varying the position Of the
balloon. both by raising and lowering +, and by
moving tho wagon. It Is comparatively easy 70 keep
tho gunncrs OF tho enemy from securing good
enough range 10 damage balloon seriously md
hinder It from being useful IN observing operations
from distance OF two three miles Inside tho
steel cable Is an electric wire for use In telephon
Ing from the balloon. and also for furnishing n
electric current for the OF n searchll.ht at
night.
Fuller experiments have been made with tho use
OF military balloons in France and Germany than
elsewhere and IT was with view OF utilizing nil the
Information secured by foreign experiments that
negotiations were opened with the French nero
nau,s. The experiments in this country have been
chiefly made in tho Far West, In Colorado and
Kansas. large balloon. made OF goldbca,ers'
skin. used In Colorado under tho direction OF
Sergeant Ivy Baldwin. United States Army. and he
and keveral OF his associates In the experimental
work are now at Tampa with this balloon and
another OF silk. which fitted UP FOR use with
the Cuban army OF invasion. There is a carload Of
equipments with these balloons including the wac-
ons and ables. and steel tubes containing hydro
gen. compressed rs aimospheres. for charging the
balloons when 1t Is desired to them for cbscrv-
In this country for Army use. but those obtained
abroad are regarded as bite. JwiaE 10 tie su-
The possible use OF an arship 10 discover whether
or not the Spanish warships I'm the ha rbor Of
Santiago de Cuba has been suggested and Il Is not
unlikely that this means VIII be employed. provided
the facts do not come 10 light soon from other
source. The use OF balloons for al purposes has
been decided upon in France. and a month ago
balloon holding 30 cubic metres OF gas and
capable OF supporting one person. was plnccd
aboard the French battle-ship Formidable. The ex-
periments which have been made show the entire
fee bity. II is said. Of the OF mis- adjunct 10
naval warfare. While not tried In time OF attic
the tests show that by ascending 800 200 feet
the range Of vision is widened that the h ,rizon
for radius Of nifty miles can be swept with a
gasa, and movements observed which would be
wholly hidden below tho horizon from the Hottest
lighting top or military mast
The plan has been proposed OF sending one OF
the balloons now at Tampa on n suitable vessel OF
high speed to Join Commodore Schley's squadron
and to use In seeing just how the supposed Span
ish neci Is hidden away In Santiago Harbor
Lieutenant Marshall, Unlteu States Navy who is
There IS no way In which Commodore Schlcy can
ascertain whether the ships are really there
from some one on shore. ] suppose the informa
through the insurgents Some ono mny have swum
of 10 vessels or come out In a boat. The Span
ish squadron must be Ave or six miles from tho
ing. with bluffs fully two hundred feet high. II
remember correctly. OF course. the feet may not
be there at all. but It must be known on shore
Our vessels probably lie about two miles on md
arc thus seven or eight miles from the foe. II they
are there 1t would be an excellent thing to ind
out where they are"
The new balloons delivered yesterday will be
shipped such points tho Officers OF the Signal
Service determine. One may go across tho
tincnt to accompany the expedition OF General Mcr
rift TO the Philippines and the other will proba bly,
be sent with the Porto Rico expedition. The
original plan Of invasion Of Cuba provided for a
looms now AT Tampa. 10 accompany the pontoon
and siege trains to the landing place selected near
Havana or MatanIaS for use in giving Information
insvrgent troops