The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-08-12
NEW USE FOR AIR SHIPS
FRANCE TO TEST WAR VALUE OF SAN.
Tos.DUMONT'S BALLOONS.
French MiRister of War Has Accepted
Offer Of Aeronaut'S Aerial Fleet
for Use in Time of War.

The New York Herald publishes the
following from it's Paris correspondent:
IL the world within measurable dis
lance of the time when battles will be
fought pp in the clouds as well as on
land and beneath the surface Of the
seaS
1t would seem so at any rate, as M
Santos, Dumont recently received a
visit at his balloon sheds in Neuilly,
France, of a delegation representing
General Andre, the French minister of
war, and composed of Major NJ.
HiFschauer, chief of the French mill
tafp aeronautical department, and
lieutenant Colonel BourgeauX, sous
chief of General Andres cabinet.
For two hours these officers remained
with NJ Santos-D umont 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 ti1aless patience.
The opinion expressed by the repre-
sentatives Of the ministry of war was
so unreservedly favorable that prac-
teal test of novel Characterization,
If 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
terestng experiment is to take train
from Paris in the early morning with
his balloon, tubes of hydrogen gas to
all 1t and all the machinery and fnstru-
ments in special wagon.
At some station short distance
Prom, 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 it to the nearest
available open space, where, under NJ
Santos Dumont'S 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
ne will then make an attempt to fly
over the town that may be selected for
the experiment
The visit of Lieutenant Colonel Bour-
Eea0X and Major Hirschbauer the other
day to NJ. Establishments balloon
sired; when the details of the foregoing
military aeronautical maneuver were
discussed, was one of the consequences
Of a letter written by NJ. Santos-Du-
mont 10 General Andre after the re
view OF July IA.
In this letter, after referring to the
sympathetic reception given him and
his air ship upon their appearance over
the review ground at Longchamps, NJ
Santos Dumont offered his air ships and
his services to France in the event OF
var with any county other than the
republics of North and South America
loyally adding that in the very 1mprob
able case of war between France anC
Braail he should put himself at thu
disposal of his native country.
IN reply to the letter of NJ. Santos
0umont the French minister Of wa
wrote that in the course Of the review
of July Id he had noticed and admired
the ease and certainty with which tn
balloon was unanswered under tn
Eerehaufs direction.
General Andre also said that b
@eNld be very happy to accept the offe
which Santos DumOnt has made to pu
his aerial fiotilla at the disposal of tn
ssslta,rninnnt of the French reDubliC.