Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-10-30
CAPTAlW G. DE E. CtzAAv1ZE R AND dC HcCOy
IN TIE, RA1KE7- JZ1T BEFQ2E THE A6CENjlON

The big European nations have set
the pace and the United States is fol.
lowing. Aeronautics are occupying a
large place in military operations in
Germany, France and England, and
regular balloon corps have been added
to the armies of those countries and
hundreds of thousands of dollars ex-
pended in securing dirigible balloons
OF the most approved type.
With such advances being made in
that direction it beloved Uncle Sam
uel to stir himself and provide equally
effective means of protecting his land
and his people. and so it has come to
pass that a balloon corps has been
added to our military equipment, and
although we are somewhat behind
European nations in tackling the prob
lem of military aeronautics, our army
is now working overtime in the
effort to excel in this, the most mod
ern branch of warfare At the time
the navy department is letting con-
tracts for submarines, the war depart
ment is deep in the problem of select
ing the best types of balloons. While
the special army and navy board is
discussing behind closed doors the use
of balloons as a part of our coast de-
tense system, actual ascensions are
being made daily from various points
in and around Washington by Capt.
Charles De F.. Chandler of the bal
loon division of the signal corps. His
first ascension several days ago was
witnessed by gaping thousands: sub
sequent ascensions were seen by un-
diminished crowds, but their gapes are
fast disappearing. The novelty is
wearing off. Military aeronautics is
gradually taking its place in this coun-
try as a recognized and necessary
branch of military science.
Congress will be called upon at the
coming session to increase the appro-
priations for the purchase of balloons,
and the chief signal Office of the army
is now considering plans for a dirigi-
BILE balloon, to cost in the neighbor-
hood of 100000, with capacity Of
$4,000 cubic feet, equipped with two
120-horse power engines of foreign de-
sign, and contract speed of 35 miles
an hour under favorable atmospheric
conditions. The hope is expressed,
however, that this announcement will
not move the unknown number of bal
loon cranks in this country to swamp
the war department with descriptions
of their contrivances. If it were left
to the army to decide, the statistics
would show that the number of bal
loon cranks in this country far ex-
ceeds any other class of cranks.
There are about half-dozen bal
looms, all captive, now in the posses
sion of the signal corps. The largest
of these, which was recently purch.
ased, is what is known as complete
purtenances. 1t has capacity of 300
cubic meters. An ordinary spherical
balloon, with capacity of 1900 cubic
meters, has also been bought recently.
It will be filed with coal gas and used
for preliminary instruction of officers
duu cuAASSeu AAcA VI tAo o46AsaA SOl pa
in the elementary principles of aero
nautics. On its trial trip this balloon
made successful journey from Wash
1ngton to Harrisburg, distance of 104
miles, in four and one-half hours.
Balloon headquarters for the army
will be at Fort Omaha, but instruction
in military aeronautics will also be
given at Fort Leavenworth, Kan, the
course here being adapted to the
respective needs of the three service
schools. For the protection of the