The evening times., 1898-07-01
UTILIZING BALLOONS IN WAR.
A Noted AerOnaut to Give the Army
an Exhibition mt Glen Echo.

an Exhibition mt Glen Echo.
The announcement that Prof Leo Ste
vens. the noted aeronaut, will make a bal
loon ascension and parachute drop at Glen
Echo on the Fourth of July is fraught
with more than merely Spectacular inter-
est to persons who are cognizant of the
real purpose and significance of the af-
fair OF late the balloon has leaped into
prominence as a military expedient for the
- purpose of spying out the location of the
enemy, the character of his defenses and
preparing plans for attack. The sue
cessful experiments of the German army
have demonstrated that one observer in a
balloon is worth a hundred men on scout
duty, for whereas the best of scouts can
only take in portion of the situation, and
the reports of all must be pieced together
by more or less guesswork, the aeronaut
takes in the whole scene for miles around
at glance. and with his powerful field
glasses can study out the details at his
leisure.
The U. s. Signal Corps under General
Greely, has been making experiments in
the same line, but has not yet arrived at
degree of proficiency which has made
their work of practical advantage. Yet
now is the time when corps of expert
aeronauts is especially needed at Santi-
ago. Prof Stevens was one of the first
practical aeronauts to suggest the plan
of spying out Cervera's fleet, when the
naval men were still doubtful if that elu-
sive Spaniard had really been bottled in
Santiago harbor. In the course of an in
terview in a New York paper he said:
THE situation at Santiago today, ex-
emplifies the Importance of the use of
balloons In warfare. 1t would be a work
nj m n hon fAr S.hr
tell definitely whether or not Cervera's
squadron is in Santiago harbor by means
of balloon.
"A balloon of 10000 cubic feet capacity
could be taken on a warship. The hy-
drogen gas needed to initiate it could be
manufactured on the ship.
IF the balloon were anchored to the
ship and ascended 5000 feet Santiago har-
Dor and the exact position of the Span
ish warships could be discerned.
mo gunner could hit at such a dis
tance. Even If he did the informa ton
would have been sent Immediately by
telegraph to the ship below, and if holes
were shot in the balloon the sailors could
haul 1t in the ship as it descended.
Such balloon would cost $500 and
could be furnished in Key West in three
weeks
But the principal reason why these apt
suggestions are not carried out seems to
have been the lack of practical and ex-
perienced men to put them into effect.
Navigating the air is very different from
sailing ship even on strange seas and
while the Navy doumtless has plenty of
brave fellows who would volunteer for
any sort of duty, such a course would be
suicidal The accident to an unframed
man who tried to navigate the new al
uminum war balloon of the German
army, resulting in the wrecking of that
costly machine and the miraculous es-
cape from death of the daring but mis-
guided volunteer, proved that such ex-
periments are not profitable. The balloon
sailor must not ony have nerves of steel
and a cool head, but he must know just
what ITO do at the proper second. since
even that short space of time may serve
to wreck an airship.
Prof. Stevens, realizing this, has vol
unteered his services to the Government,