Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-06-24


portant part In the work OF our navy
action will make them more needfu
in observing the Spaniard's strength
ened lines OF defense.
The tortuous waterways and the
generally Iand-loeked nature OF the
harbors. their narrow fortified en-
frances. and the excellent retreats the
wide reaches OF water offer TO their
ships make IL imperative that we have
some fairly safe and reliable means OF
making Reconnaissance OF the Span
iards' positions The fighting tops,
yes, even the mastheads. are OF little
avail for observation at the distances
imposed by the watchful batteries OF
the enemy. and the captive balloon
alone solves the dlfiiculty. This Is es-
pecielly so where high promontories
like those OF Santiago dc Cuba and San
Juan completely shut out the harbor
from view and make hitting a feet
therin mere guesswork. Recent expert
ments Ia Germany, France and Rus
STA have emphasized the Importance or
the captive balloon In widening fleets
powers OF observation. Just In the same
way that the captive balloon Will serve
the army; and the patient trials and
study OF the Germans have evolved
curious aerostat that by virtue Of It's
shape and peculiar properties IS es-
peclaliy we'll adapted to the greater
range OF naval work. and II Is quite
safe 10 say our own balloons Will en-
body the general features OF the Ger
man design.
The balloons will really be three bal
looms acting IN concert The first and |
largest Is like an immense sausage, |
and bears the main burden OF the load |
cd car The second Is somewhat SINH
lar In shape. but hugs the lower end
OF the big balloon ike creeping
caterpillar This second and smaller
balloon acts principally Ia the capacity
OF rudder. and aids materially In
holding the balloon In peculiar posi-
ton, while the third and small spher-
cal balloon trails along Independently
behind at some distance and serves In
tho same steadying capacity that a
kites tail does. In action. this triple
balloon floats with great steadlness or
immobilIty when not under way
something impossible In the pear
shaped affair familiar to All Of rs.
The observation car Is pendant from
the main balloon. which poises In the
air at an angle OF about i5 degrees.
practically like the position OF the kite
common 20 every school boy and II
is Just 10 that way that the force OF
he wind Is utilized to increase the
huOyancy and 20 subserve
.lso TO that peculiarly marked steadi-
hess or drectness Of fight.
Made up. as II Is. In three separate
,arts u IL less liable 20 total and in
tant collapse IN case OF puncture. and
I Is even possible to secure wider
margin OF safety by subdiyldlng the in
erlors by thin membranous walls and
ttlng them with little valves some
that like those now used on a bicycle
Ire which would enable the balloon TO
G allied but which al the same time
lould shut of automatically an in
ired compartment by virtue OF the
force OF the neighboring
ood ones happy. chance shot that
light damage one or even two OF the
would only cause the
illoon TO sink slowly like an exhaust
/ bird and would either enable the
.ronauis 20 prepare Tor a Jump In
lfe,y or permit the balloon TO be
avn beyond the reach Of further at
OK before touching the water These
,iloons are built up in sections out
a wonderfully llgh, but very tough
bricatlon OF silk--a strip a yard long
ing equal TO bearing a burden OF half
ton: and balloon capable OF rails
party OF four persons viii scarce
weigh more than good-sized boy
10
TIE especial advantages OF the bal
on for naval work we're discovered
recently as 1884. In that year the
ussian monitor Rusalka foundered
lth all hands IN the Gulf OF Finland.
q expedition. under Colonel Nicolas
Orion. undertook 10 discover the To-
.tion Of the lost vessel by using
.ptive balloon Tor the purposes Of sub
arine observation and while be was
aable TO hna the craft still the re-
Its of bis search were fruitful "a val
,ble information FOR future naval pur-
,ses. The balloon. which was held
lptive by a large naval transport fit
& I'D for the service. assembled 70 al
tudes varying from $50 10 something
- over 400 feet. Two observers.