The Washington herald., 1908-01-19

by Krupp for the purpose OF throwing
shells at their aerial enemies. Under those
circumstances the French decided to send
on their balloons under cover of night.
This, while it promised immunity from
the Prussians. greatly increased the diff
culties and dangers of the fight. Never
| theless Il was done IN the majority of the
later fights. One Of these night ascen-
slons was particularly exciting.
Tho wind was from the north. and it was
! hoped that the balloon would be able 10
descend near Tours. The ascent was
made without incident, but in short time
the yoyagers heard a noise below which
| filed them with apprehension, for IL
sounded like the dashins OF breakers on
the shore. At this time besides being in
darkness, they were sailing through d
thick mist
At daybreak the mist cleared away, and
they found themselves floating over the
sea, beyond sight Of land. There were
several vessels In sight. and TO these they
attempted to signal But only one Of the
vessels responded. and that one fired at
them. The balloon was now caught by a
nortnerly current and carried rapidly in
that direction. The air travellers had
given themselves up for lost. when they
came IN sight of land 10 the eastward. In
the mountains the chill of the morning air
had caused the gas In the bag 10 contract
and the balloon began 10 settle down to-
ward the sea.
IN this extremity the balloonists threw
out everything portable, even a bag OF
dispatches. This saved them, for the bal
loon, thus lishtened, rose until Il eneoun-
tered westerly current which carried
them TO a point over the land, upon which
they managed TO make a safe descent,
The ground was covered with snow. and
after tumbling out Of the car, the travel
crs. exhausted by their adventure, fell
fainting 10 the ground. The balloon. re-
lteved OF their weight, disappeared but
both Il and the bag OF dispatches were
afterward recovered. The balloonists were
finally discovered by some peasants. and
found that they had been carried 10 Nor
way.
It was some time before either Of them
recovered from the trying experience,
The balloon was expected TO be Of the
first Importance in war and the battle OF
Fleurus. in 1894 was won by the French.
IL IS said because Of observations sig
nailed from a captive balloon which re-
NAMED up all day. Military balloons were
employed at Antwerp IN 1918, al SGlferino
in 1859 and did good service IN our civil
war.
The war balloons used in South Africa
were made Of gold-bcatcr's skin. On one
occasion a balloon was puuctuTed by a
shot but it descended gradually, and not
one Of IT'S occupants was hurt The war
usefulness OF the balloon was so thor
oughly established that the English gov
ernment built balloon manufactory at
Cape Town
II viii be remembered that In our war
with Spain the balloon had q rather seri-
Gus experience. The Spauiards succeeded
IN Tiddling Il and in wounding the Occu-
pants, of whom there were three an Off
Ger. an aeTonaut. and q telegraph opera
tor. but fortunately the men reached
earth IN safety. The English have "a case
of balloon punCturcd by fifty-six shots
which took fifteen 10 twenty minutes TO
descend. thus showing that although the
balloon may be punCtuTed IL is not at all
necessarily fatal for its passengers.