The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-08-04
new USE FOR AIR SHIPS
France to Test War Value Of
Santos-Dumonts Balloon.
he WILL TRY TO ENTER A TOWN

grench Minister of War Has Accept
ed ORer Of Noted Aeronaut's Aerial
fleet For Use In Time OF war-In-
ventor stipuiates That they Must
Never BE Used Against North and
south American Republics.
The New York Herald publishes the
following from its Paris correspondent:
Is the world within measurable dis
lance Of the time when battles will be
fought up III the clouds as well as on
land and beneath the surface OF the
sea2
1t would seem so at any rate, as H..
santos-Dumont recently received a
isit 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 aeronauhcal 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-
sentatives Of the ministry of war was
SO unreservedly favorable that a prac-
teal test OF a novel character which,
il successful viii be conclusive Of the
afr 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-Dumont's idea for this in
terestng experiment is to take a train
from Paris in the early morning with
his balloon, tubes Of hydrogen gas to
Gil # and all the machinery and instru-
ments in a special wagon.
At some station short distance
from, say, Nancy the wagon will be
unlocked from the train and a score
or so Of soldiers and accompanying of
hcers. representing the ministry Of war,
will unload the balloon and its apph.
ances and transport II TO the nearest
available open space, where, under M,
Santos Dumonts 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 viii be ready, and
he viii then make an attempt to hy
over the town that may be selected fol
the experiment
The visit Of Lieutenant Colonel Bour
geaux and Major Hirschbauer the other
day to Al Santos-Dumont's balloon
shed, when the details Of the foregoing
military aeronauucaI maneuver werl
| discussed, was one Of the consequence.
of a letter written by NJ. Santos-Du
mont 10 General Andre after the re
view of July IA.
1 In this letter, after referring to th'
sympathetic reception given him ant
his air ship upon their appearance ovei
the review ground at Longchamps, AI
Santos Dumont offered bis air ships an6
his services to France in the event o.
war with any country other than tht
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 wal
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
aeronauts direction.
General Andre also said that he
would be very happy to accept the offel
which Santos Dumont has made to pu
his aerial fiotilla at the disposal of tht
government Of the French republic.