New-York tribune., 1908-08-09
BALLOON DESIGNER HERE.
Colonel TempIer Says DrigibLes Are
Necessary Engines of Var.

Colonel James Templer adviser to the depart
rrent of aeronautics in the British army and de-
signer of the new twin screw air war balloon for
the British government, is here to see Tor hl1nse
he said Yesterday at the Waldorf. the flights or
American dirigible balloons, aeroplanes and hylns
machines The colonel has been actively engaged
in aeronautcal experiments in England for forty
years and designed, 1t is said the first dirigiole
balloon
Colonel Templer talked encourasingly concerning
the work of others both here and abroad but with
the modesty that seems TO accompany military ac-
complishment he always harhed back TO captain
Baldvin's dirigible now being tried out at Fort
Myer Virginia for the United States government
or to the inventions and records OF men studying
the art of flight by heavier-than-air type OF ma
chimes whenever any person present urged thal iie
speak of his own hopes and achievements
Al the mention of Count Zeppelin, however, ana
his exploded dirgibIe balloon, which was more thah
four hundred feet long, Colonel Templers eyes
lighted up and. with great enthusiasm ne talAeu
of the future Of dirgible balloons IN war.
Count Zeppelin proved to all Of US that he couIo
build so long an arship and keep it up IN the air
FOR hours" said the colonel L did not tnlnK ne
could do it Now that he has done it, know tina u
I could build dirigfbe balloon that woulo ny anu
make il l 900 feet long"
Asked If the accident to the Zeppelin would re-
tard the exploitation of such flying machlnes' Ooo
rel Templer answered: Not at all why shouiu
it? Consider what really happened If the Maure-
tanIa left port without a trained crew she "ouiu
rever get hack and neither would the crew. Tne
Zeppelin was a monster airship and should never
have started from its shed until she was manned
by at least six experts who had worked on her anu
studied her for months. Take person on the
street and tell him to run motor car down your
main thoroughfare and those in his car won thank
you or be comfortable 1t takes crew, tell you'
on an airshp make it a topper
THE count was too good natured- A prince ana
princess who said they wanted to ride IN his arr
shin were promptly accommodated certainly
iunop in-youu like IT, by jove-ts great ne
would say TO such persons. If he had had ere"
of riclzed men there would have been no accident
Take my word for it
Colonel Templer spoke strongly for the dlrlslpio
balloon as a necessary engine OF war. He praised
the work of Captain Thomas S. Baldwin at Fort
,rvar and said that there were several inventors in
England who stood in the first rank. the results OF
whose work would soon be made apparent Ihere
vaa he said an immense Improvement in con-
.+rrctior and detail in the British balloons over
,,,,s+ was being done g short time ago. England
today stands in the front rank in such matters,
he said, emphaticaly-
Before leaving this country, which ne is visiting
for the first time, Colonel Templer Will make an
extended trin through the South and West L
want TO see the chap in Kentucky Of whom l pur-
chased two stunning horses he added They
cost me $500. and you should see them. They are
worth it. every cent
The colonel and a party Of friends Will depart
for Washington tonight TO meet Brgadier- General
Allen. chief of the United States Signal Corps, in
charge of the Baldwin tests.