Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-07
new USE FOR AIR SHIPS
France to Test War Value OF
Santos-Dumont's Balloon.
HE WILL TRY TO ENTER A TOWN.
French Minister of War Has Accept
cd Oner OF Noted Aeronaut's Aerial
Fleet For Use In Time of war-In-
ventor stipuiates That They Must
Never he Used Against North and
south American Republics.

HAeet TUT tse IN Ithe OF Waf-ih-
ventor stipuIates That They Must
Never he Used Against North and
South American Republics.
The New York Herald publishes the
following from its Paris correspondent:
Is the world within measurable dis
tance of the time when battles will be
fought up In the clouds as well as on
land and beneath the surface of the
sea?
Ii would seem so at any rate, as NJ.
Santos DumOnt recently received
visit at his balloon sheds in Neuilly.
France, of delegation representing
General Andre, the French minister of
war. and composed of Major NJ
Hirschauer, chief of the French mill
tary aeronautical department, and
Lieutenant Colonel Bourgeaux, sous
chief of General Andres cabinet.
For two hours these officers remained
with NJ. Santos-Dumont examining his
great balloon No. 10, trying the sixty
horse power motor, starting and stop
ping the immense propeller and study
ing every detail Of the air ship with
minute care and tireless patience.
The opinion expressed by the repre-
sentatiyes OF the ministry of war was
30 unreservedly favorable that prac-
teal test of novel character-which.
II successful. will be conclusive of the
air ships military value-will soon take
place.
The test will consist of an attempt
to leave Paris and enter one of the
French frontier towns Nancy or Bel
fort. the same day by air ship. Natu-
rally the entire journey will not be
made In the balloon.
NJ. Santos Dumonts idea for this in
teresting experiment Is to take train
from Paris In the early morning with
his balloon, tubes Of hydrogen gas to
fill 1t and all the machinery and instru-
ments In special wagon.
At some station a short distance
from, say, Nancy the wagon will be
unlocked from the train and score
or SO of soldiers and accompanying of
ficers, representing the ministry of war,
will unload the balloon and its appli-
ances and transport 1t to the nearest
available open space, where, under NJ.
Santos-Dumont directions, the balloon
will be inflated and prepared for the
ascent
NJ. Santos Dumont estimates that
within two hours Of the time of leaving
the train everything will be ready, and
he will then make an attempt TO fly
over the town that may be selected for
the experiment.
The visit of Lieutenant Colonel Bour-
geaux and Major Hirsehbauer the other
day to NJ. Santos -Dumont's balloon
shed, when the details of the foregoing
military aeronautical maneuver were
discussed, was one Of the consequences
of letter written by NJ Santos-Du-
mont to General Andre after the re-
view Of July Il.
In this letter, after referring to the
sympathetic reception given him and
his air ship upon their appearance over
Santos -Dumont offered his air ships and
his services to France in the event of
war with any country other than the
republics of North and South America,
Loyalty adding that in the very improb-
able case Of war between France and
Brazil he should put himself at the
disposal of his native country.
In reply to the letter of NJ. Santos
Dumont the French minister of war
wrote that in the course of the review
Of July IA he had noticed and admired
the ease and certainty with which the
balloon was Unanswered under the
aeronaut's direction.
General Andre also said that he
would be very happy to accept the offer
which Santos-Dumont has made to put
his aerial flotilla at the disposal of the
government Of the French republic.