The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-10
BALLOONS IN WAR.
A Novel Battle I'm CIoudland Nearly
Thirty Years Ago.

Baltimore Sun.
The announcement that the balloon is des-
tined to play 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 as 1892 balloons
were used for military signaling in France
But in our time, during the seige of Paris
by the German troops frequent attempts
We're made by Frenchmen to communicate
with those inside the beleaguered city, and
to dispatch men and matter from the capital
by means of balloons. In Paris itself, Under
the direction of Postmaster Ramport, a ball
loon post and transport service was estah-
llshed Tor carrying persons and govern
mental as we'll as private mail matter from
the bes1eged capital. Among the public men
leaving 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. A total of sixty-gix talloons,
according to Tissandier's ''En l3allon Fen
dant lie Siege de Paris left the Lesieeed
city, and 16S persons, 1914 Kilograms of pos
tai matter, including 30G0OO0 letters, 1863
hoInerS, fve dogs and CWO boxes of dynamite
were dispatched by the aerial route OF the
balloons, fifty-two descended in France,
t1ve in Belgium, four in holland. TWO in
Germany and one in Norway OLly five of
them were captured by the Germans ard
in the ocean.
OF all voyages of that time, however,
none. could compare for exciting and peril.
aeronaut NJ. Nadar, who left Tours "OGl for
@ parls with important &c nment dis
morning me At II he was in vi f the CAPT
tai on the Seine. While fjoa about 600
metres above Fort Charentol, Nadar sud-
denly observed a second balloon on the
horizon. Thinking it to be one leaving
Paris, the French aerOnaut at once dis
played the tri-color Of his country. and the
other balloon responded by exhibiting the
same flag. Gradually the two balloons ap-
preached or another, being drawn in the
same direction by the same current of air
When they were separated by only a short
distance several explosions were heard The
stranger had commenced to fire shots AT
Nadar's balloon, the Intrepide. which be-
gan to descend rapidly. The French flag
had by this time been replaced in the other
balloon by the Prussian colors The Paris
ians who 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 compatriot was
lost. But they were mistaken.
Nadar had scrambled from the car up the
network of his airship after the first shot
from the enemy to stop hole made in the
tissue. Presently he descended to the car
as the balloon righted itself and, throwing
out quantity of ballast, caused 1T to rise
higher and higher. Then Selling his rifle,
he fired shots with rapid succession into the
Prdssian. which suddenly split and sunk to
the earth. On reaching the groundSa de-
tachment of Uhlans, who had been watch
ing the combat from the plain, picked up
the German aeronaut and rode OFF to the
Prussian outposts. Nadar then alighted In
safety within the girdle OF the Paris forts.
meeting with an enthusiastic ovation for
his victory in the first balloon duel.