The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-20
BIG BALLooN READY.
Signal Corps Preparing to Watch for
the Enemy from Space

the Enemy from Space.
NEW YORK, April 1o-The big balloon
Of the signal corps of tbs United States
army now at Fort wadsworth, New York
harbor, is ready for use. 1t is upon the
balloon corps that the city will depend, to
s. greater or less extent, for its first knowl-
edge Of the approach of an enemy.
The observer in its car viii have range
Of almost $50 miles to sea, and with the
powerful telescopes with which he is pro-
vided will be able to detect a Spanish war
ship, should one approach. long before the
vessel could be seen from the observatory
at Sandy Hook. The stationing Of signal
sergeants at various exposed points along
the coast has been arranged, telegraph and
telephone lines will be laid from point to
point with the greatest rapidity, and all
sorts of interesting and valuable maneuvers
by the signal corps will occur during this
week.
Aerial military maneuvers have advanced
ITO such degree Of perfection within the
last two years that it will be possible for
the observer in the car to not only discern
an enemys ship. but at distance of sew
eral miles to accurately photograph 1t. At
the same time the balloon, high in air, will
present such q small speck in the sky as
to render it an impossible target for the
gunners, either with ordnance or small
arms 1t has been demonstrated, TOO, that
bullets from small arms render little appre-
ciabla harm TO a balloon, for the reason
that the aperture made by the passage of
the bullet through the silk is Immediately
closed, or nearly So by the pressure of the
hydrogen gas.
The balloon train now at Fort Wadsworth
consists OF three wagons and lot of mis-
cellaneous paraphernaia, large enough to
lead a small ship. The balloon, when de-
Hated Is coTnpactly rolled ana has place IN
q compartment built especially for 1t, in the
forward end Of one of the wagons. AT the
rear end of this wagon is a reel upon which
Is wound cable several thousand feet in
length. light in construction, but very
strong. A third compartment carries the
wicker car and netting, together with the
necessary ropes used in initiating and send
inc up the air ship. Tubes of compressed gas
are carried by the field train In quantity
sufficient to initiate the balloon several
times The wagon in which the balloon is
carried is of sufficient weight TO act as an
anchor when the balloon is in the air. In
case Of an eneny's IRE becoming unpleas-
ant the wagon may be removed from place
to place. dragging the balloon with it.
Nearly all the standing armies of the
world with the possible exception OF Spain,
employ the war balloon in military maneu-
vers. What experiments have been made
by this government up TO this time in the
use Of high explosives, dropped from great
heixhts is not known, but hints have been
dropped that there may be effective Yankee
tricks slowed away eoout the innocent-look-
ing air ships that Aeronaut Ira Baldwin Is
&c navigate.
Field telegraph and telephone trains. as
well as signal corps officers in charge OF
heliograph detachments. will be sent this
week 10 various southern points on the
coast where the Infantry Is mobilizing. 1t
IL the perilous work of this ccaps to trans
NIT orders. messages and instructions from
one division of the army TO another in the
least possible space Of time. Is is also their
work 20 lay telephone and telegraph lines
from the very front OF fighting force to
the headquarters OF the commanding gen
eral, nc matter where that may be, and Ia
keep up an unbroken communication.
Ali along the Long island coast and on
che Jersey coast, between the highlands and