Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-11-27
A|RSH|P FOR THE ARMY
Government to Spend S25, 900
For DirigibIe Balloon.
WILL BE USED FOR SCOUTING
American and Foreign Experts Will
Be Asked to Submit Bids on One.
Artillery Experts Engaged on Plans
to Destroy Scout Balloons Of Foes.

10 CostroI ocout BALLOONS OF Focs'
Acting Secretary OF War Oliver has
approved the action OF the army ord
nance board 10 allotting the signal corps
$4,000 10 be used IN getting dirigi
BILE balloon for scouting purposes, says
a Washington special dispatch TO the
! New York Times. The last efforts OF
the war department To conquer the air
were made under the tutelage Of Pro
fessor Langley who thought he had
worked ont this problem OF flight by
means of the aeroplane. but ia the
! final test five years ago his cOntrivance
came to grief in the tawny waters OF
the Potomac The experiments made
at that time cost more than 100000.
and for them the government has moth
ing to show today but a pretty little
engine OF aluminium. which IL is as
serted can develop ten horse power
and weighs but 300 pounds.
The science of vigatlon has
been almost wholly developed since the
death OF Professor Langley. and now
II will be purely business matter for
the government To advertise for bids
and get its wants I'm the shape OF
skyship. General Allen. chief of the
signal corps. has sent TO all the leading
workers In aeronautics In the United
States and abroad tentative invi-
tation with specifications for such
dirigible balloon as the army needs.
II Is not expected that with the amount
allotted by the ordnance board salts
factory balloon can be had. but be
ginning can be made, and as expert
ence points the way larger and more
complete balloon can be procured.
The present specifications call for
two man balloon capable OF carrying
gasoline enough for three hours
flight. The plan is for one man 10 de
vote his attention entirely to the man
agement OF the balloon. while the 9TH
er IS left free TO reconnoiter make pho
tographs or draw Typographical maps
The idea is 10 gse coal gas. for reasons
of economy. and the minimum speed re
quired is eighteen miles an hour IN still
air and from thirty 10 thirty-fve miles
with the wind The balloon must
make a 100 mile trip successfully
fifty miles out and fifty back The
price 10 be paid will doubtless be based
on the speed attained. the successful
contractor receiving a bonus for every
mile over the maximum set by the de
partments specifications OF losing pro
rata for every mile under the average
speed called for.
There are several experts In the
United States who have been at work
In cooperation with the army students
Of aeronautics who think that the re
qulrements laid down 10y General Allen
can be met successfully here.
II Is intended 10 conduct balloon
drills after the dirigible Is bought ana
gradually work out many problems
that now confront aeronauts Ulti
mately II Is hoped a dlrigible viii be
built by the government with the com
blned skill and ingenuity Of an the ex
pert army officers turned on the Job
1t goes without saying nowadays That
balloons are 10 be recognized equip
ment of armies hereafter. Already our
artillery experts nre AT work on onl
nance 10 combat balloon reconnaissance
High angle firing IS being practiced
with howitzers and special shrapnel
charges are being tried II has been
found that It takes different marks
manship 10 hit balloon target high
up IN the air from what Is required az
distance on the surface of the earth
The trajectory IS much iatter. and the
powder charges must be greater to
a.,.,.t- ,lfsrap..e tIot ,ti,.rv.fca Ia ~
binary fire take a low charge
The type OF balloon aimed at by the
signal officers is not such as private
individuals have brought into promi-
hence. but rather those that have been
developed by the French and British
military experts These have been sue
cessful beyond all doubt. although the
British war balloon was wrecked re
Gently and is being rebuilt