The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-09-09

The nations Of the world are fol-
lowing with keen interest the develop
mcnts in balloohing, and are bending
every energy to a practical utilization
Of the airship as an engine Of war. If
the secret of successful navigation of
the air is discovered there apparently
seems no limit to It's possibilities in
time of war, and for this eason each
nation is making experiments and
striving To be the first to produce the
armorcd airship. Even the United
States is to have an aerial fleet, for
the giant war balloon completed a few
weeks age for The signal corps is only
the first Of a series of such balloons
Of great size to be manufactured for
the United States army.
France has always been considered
the foremost nation in balloon expert
ments, but It is known that Germany
Is specially active in the development
OF the wal balloon, and is ambitious of
attaining superiority over all other
nations in this respect.
Every year there are Q. series of
maneuvers by the German army, all
OF them interesting and important ow-
ing to the military character of the
nation. but from the increasing inter,
est taken in military airships in Ger
many at the present time, 1t is easy ia
see that these will form the chief at
traction of the coming maneuvres
This Is all the more likely to be the
ease because the German army be
lieves that It has solved, for military
purposes. the Siderable balloon prob
lem. The success of the French mill
tary balloon is also expected to have
its influence upon the aeronautical
force in the German army by melting
them TO give a brilliant and omiuous
exhibition.
During the last twcnty.three years
the German army has devoted "a great
deal OF attention to the study of mill
tary balloons and a~irships, although
the greatest activity in this direction
has been noticed since 1901, when an
imperial order was issued converting
the |ballooning detachment into a bal
looming battalion. Splendid new bar
racks and practice grounds, fitted Out
with the most modern improvements
were erected at Tegcl, the former ten
ements of the ba|llOOning corps proving
too small to accommodate the in.
creased number of troops. Since that
period ballooning in all its phases has
been the subject of the most earnest
and thorough deliberation on the par
of the corps, which may well be sale
10 be the finest branch of itn kind In
any European army.
TO the |ballooning battalion Is as
signed the use of the signal balloon
which is probably only to be seen II
Germany. This is a small spherica
aerostat, not intended 10 carry alof
anything weightier than apparatus by
which signals may be communicated
The signals are conveyed much thu
same as they are on warships, b!
means of M and drums and flags
Just at present, two balloons arr
monopollzing the attention of German
army officers. These are the Zeppelin
dirigible and the more resent steer
able aerostat designed by Won Parse
val. The latter is regarded as the more
important, and one on which the Ger
man army has staked its reputation.
was constructed by the celebrated
Major Won Parsoval. a Bavarian Off
Ger, who for the last 90 years has de
voted his life to painstaking expert
ments with all kinds Of airships an,
machines.
The Parsoyal airship consists O
two distinct parts, the balloon, or gas
bag with rudder, and the car on which
the motor with propeller is placed
The shape of the balloon is somewha
similar TO that of the Zeppelin bal
loon, namely, cylindrical and taporinI
at both ends. It has. however, N,
framework. and, like other balloons
derives its shape simply through tn,
expansive properties of gas. TIL,
length Is AZ meters, diameter S.57 me
tiers ana capacity $500 meters. In tn,
interior Of the airship two bags, 0
"balloonettes," are situated, one a
both ends, which can be inflated or dc
fiated by ventilators, so that the gas
bag itself is kept in a constant stat,
of tension. A slanting position can ais,
be impaired to the balloon by dc
nating one of the bags while the othe
Is full, or initiating one OF them whel
the second one is empty. Wings, sc
called neutrality-suspicious." ar