The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-05
MILLION FOR BALLOONS
Ordnance Board Wants to Train
Men in Dropping Explosives.
A Coast Defense Plan-This Country
to Follow Lead OF European Ma
tions-War Value Great.

washington. ID. VI
the utility of dirigible war balloons
the Board of Ordnance of the war
Department will make a recommen-
dation, which is to be embodied IN
the annual report of the Secretary OF
War, for a large appropriation by
Congress for military balloons as a
means for coast defense. Officers of
the signal corps Of the army, 1nclud-
ing General Allen, are convinced that
the Government can afford to invest
100000 900 in this type Of military
air craft, but the amount to be urged
Immediately will be an even $1,000
600. If this appropriation is granted
it is the intention to establish coas
defense balloon stations and to drill
men in the dropping of high explo-
sives from balloons. These stations
would be located at Boston, New
York, Norfolk. Charleston, Mobile,
San Diego, San Francisco and Bre-
merton, and the moral effect of such
an adjunct to the coast defense is
counted upon as of inestimable value.
The amount to be sought at the
next session of Congress is just four
times what was urged last winter.
The Signal Corps then wanted $780,
900, but scaled its estimate down to
100000, and Congress appropriated
nothing. It is now believed That
with the demonstrations made by
Count Zeppelin in Switzerland ana
the progress made this summer IN
aerial navigation as an object lesson
Congress will heed the appeal to be
made next winter. Whatever the at
titude of the legislators the recon-
mendation will be made with more
force than ever before, and the data
obtained from abroad, as well as
from the experiments at Fort Myer
next month, will be spread before the
Military committees. Officers OF the
Signal Corps expect the coming ex-
periments to demonstrate that the
ssheavier than air" flying machines
arc without promise for practical mil
itary and that before Con-
gress meets it will be apparent that
the dirigible balloon is the only really
available thing in this line for mill
tary purposes.
The United States is the only lead
ing Power that has yet signed the
declaration of the last Hague on
ference prohibiting the discharge OF
projectiles and explosives from bal
looms. That declaration was ratified
by. the Senate on March 10 last, and
it prohibits for a period extending to
the close Of the third peace conference
the discharge of projectiles and eX-
plosives from balloons or by other
new methods of a similar nature.
But the declaration by it's express
terms is binding on the contracting
parties only in case of wal between
1.-TWO or more of them" and ceases
to be binding when in a war between
contracting Powers n of the bel
ligerents is joined by a n~on-contract-
ing Power.
This declaration has not been
signed by Germany, Austria-Hungary,
China, Great Britain, Italy, Japan,
Russia and a number Of smaller u
tries. Until other large nations
sign the declaration it is not binding
upon the United States, and as those
countries which have made the most
progress with dirigible balloons did
not sign 1t it is contended that the
united states SuOulu De pIepdISu "
meet them on an equal footing by
equipping itself with a fleet of aerial
war craft.
Three air craft will be tested next
month at Fort Myer under the aus
pices of the Signal Corps, in response
to it's recent proposals. The Baldwin
dirigible balloon is now on it's way
from Hammondsport, N. Y, to Wash
ington, and will be assembled in a
week or two. Baldwin is under on
trac- to make the necessary lVe-mile
fight within thirty days after July 27.
The only other ~conte:tants will be A.
M. Herring, of New York, and the
Wright brothers. They will submit
heavier than air" machines. The
Herring test must take place within
thirty days after August 13, and the
Wright brothers flight must be with
in thirty days after August 2S. Each
test will be held separately and in
public.