The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-05-08

balloon equipments Tor quick and ac-
curate observation IN the field. The
automobile carries the balloon. coll
or leading rope, and the necessary inn
plements for initiating the balloon.
The automobile can In this way run
quickly across the country to somo
favorable point Of observation. ana
then the operators can initiate the bal
loon and make an ascension. Tho
whole equipment is compact and COM
plete.. A telephone connects the bal
loon with the automobile, and the OPP
orator Of the latter proceeds In any di.
recton indicated by the aeronaut. In
this way the automobile carries the
balloon nearer or farther away from
the line of the enemy The observa-
tions from the care Of the balloon can
be taken from a dozen different points
of view. In the event of an unexpect.
ed attack from cavalry the automobile
would be ready for resisting It. rho
cable Of tho balloon could be quickly
approached within shooting distance
the automobile would be ready for
a savage attack With the steel
shields raised in sloping positions the
bullets of the enemy would have little
chance to touch the operators, while
the sharp-shooters from behind the
shields could pick off the horsemen
with ease.
Meanwhile the power of the auto
mobile could be shown in another way.
With a speed that no horse could hope
to equal the machine could charge
down upon the cavalry and dispense it.
No horsemen would be foolhardy
enough to wait for such an attack.
There would be a complete and de-
moralizing retreat. The automobile
could fight a retreating battle equally
as we'll as front one. While running
rapidly from the enemy it could train
It's guns on them and fire with pretty
fair precision. On the whole the auto
mobile party would be far safer than
cavalry or infantry and so long as
the machine kept to the open country
and steercd clear of batteries it would
have fair fighting chance to. escape
from almost any trap laid for it. This
is so generally appreciated by the mill
tary authorities of Europe that extra
heavy types of these modern Jugger-
naut war machines are now In the
course OF preparation.
Military automobilism furnishes a
variety Of sport which, in times Of
peace, has it's excitement and risk
not generally obtained by those who
operate their machines merely in the
interest of personal recreation. In Ell.
rope the military chaueurs are prac-
tically exempt from local restrictions
concerning speed, and their endurance
and speed tests are conducted in a
manner to excite the interest of any
one familiar with automobile matters
The military automobiles have the
right of way in Germany and Austria
Hungary at certain times of the year
and in specified parts of the country
and they are rushed across the country
at their highest possible speed. The
automobile courier is first entitled tt
all the privileges of the highway
and the high speed machine mus
make a record or lose the honors helC
out for the quickest in the races
These automobile couriers instead o
following some fine, well-graded pub
lie highway, are supposed to cross thu
country and go through narrow ant
rough by-paths which would teet-th,
skill of the best chauffeur T
of such speed trials is NOT
any race record such as we DuIlng
toned to hear about in ordin8luy ~
on good roads, but the experiment
show the value and durability of tn
machines, and testify to the skill 0
the rough riders. For, in truth, tn
military automobile courier is a roug
rider of the most modern type and h
performs tricks and evolutions in tn
fields that might we'll eclipse the wor
of the best cowboy on his bronchC
The military evOlutions of the auto
mobiles carrying Maxim guns are n
less interesting, but of a somewha
different appearance. They selec
likewise the open country, and the ms
chimes are driven at great speed acros
the country where few, if any, decen
roads connect distant points TIL
machines must be heavy and durabl
enough to make these rough trips i
all kinds of weather, and the operator
are not by any means sparing on tn
machinery or their own nerves. 1t
the nearest approach to rough ridin
in a modern battle that could yer
--rnl1 h ir,,itnAnd Nnnrnn Il NMalel