The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-12-20
CHpTAKW C. De E. CHANDLER AND &c HCCOY
N. The BASKET, Just BEFORE. THE A5CENJlON

The big European nations have set
the pace and the United States is fol-
lowing. Aeronautics are occupying a
large place in military operations I'm
Germany. France and England. and
regular balloon corps have been added
10 the armies of those countries and
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars ok.
pended in securing dirigible balloons
Of the most approved type.
With such advances being made I'm
that direction it beloved Uncle Sam
uel 10 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 u 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 UNI
diminished crowds, but their gapes are /
fast disappearing. The novelty -
wearing of. Military aeronautcs 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 a capacity of .
$4,000 cubic feet, equipped with two
120-horse power engines Of foreign de-
sign, and a contract speed Of 80 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 I'm this country to swamp
the war department with descriptions
Of their contrivances. II 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 a halfdozen 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 a complete
military captive balloon" with an APP
purtenances. It has a capacity Of 300
cubic meters. An ordinary spherical
balloon, with a capacity of 2.2OO cubic
meters, has also been bought recently.
It will be filled with coal gas and used
for preliminary instruction of officers
and enlisted men Of the signal corps
in the elementary principles Of aero
nautics. On its trial trip this balloon
made a successful journey from Wash
ington TO Harrisburg, a distance of l0i
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 G
schools. For the protection of the
Pacific coast balloon headquarters are q
to be established on Angel island. and
the selection of an advantageous site G
on the Atlantic coast is now under
In case the dlrigible {
balloon of the trype which The authori.
ties are now considering is contracted G
for, It will, when completed. be sent
10 East Omaha and there tested The {
officers Of the signal corps are unwin-
ing to give details regarding it's main v
until il is completed.
hey are guarding them with an the O
care that the navy attempts To- guard
lis battleship designs. But it Is not T.