The Washington herald., 1908-07-15
NEED FOR BALLOONS
Signal Corps officers Want
Appropriations.
FOLLOW ZEPPELINS LEAD
Experts Declare DfrigibIe Gas Bags
Invaluable Adjunct TO Coast De-
mentS in Germany and France.
Trials Scheduled for Fort Myer.

The Board OF Fortifcations OF the
army has taken a strong interest in the
work Of foreign aeronauts. and especially
! in the aerial developments Of the dirigibIe
balloon
Il IS the present intention Of the board
TO ask Congress for an appropriation Of
10000 in order that fresh experimental
work may be begun in this country. The
idea Of the Signal Corps is 10 obtain d
large dirigiole balloon equal in efficiency
10 and larger than the French balloon La
Patrie-
Aerial navigation, In the opinion Of the
army. has already reached a stage which
promises great practical developments IN
the near future, and the value Of a dirigi-
bic balloon as an engine OF war has. IL
is believed. already been demonstrated
A feet Of dirigible balloons, It is point
ed out. would be a valuable adjunct TO
the coast defenses Of country. as they
would be able 10 sail out against an ap-
preaching feet without exposing them
selves 10 the enemy's fire and would be
able TO make quick and accurate .observa-
tons Of the enemy's strength.
Little confidence is placed in the heavier
thal-air machine as an engine Of war,
as tl.is type Of machine will. Il IS believed.
be limited 10 carrying small burdens al
a high rate Of speed. and will necessarily
be more dangerous 10 operate than a
dlrigible- On the other hand. the dirigible
has a sufficiently high speed for all prac-
tlcal uses. a large carrying capacity. ard
an extenied cruising radius
Can sail Close to Ground.
DirigibIe balloons are especially vaIua-
bic in night operations. as they can sail
within L010 feet OF the earth without be-
ing seen, and at the same time. make OBJ
servatiOus OF the objects below them in
the darkness
The Signal Corps has entered into con
tracts with several American inventors 70
obtain several dirigible balloons and aero
planes. and these VIII De given a thorough
trial az a series OF experiments 10 be held
AZ Fort Myer. Va. this fail The balloons
20 be bought, however. are Of such
small type that they viii be only expert
mental
la Patrle. the French dirigibIe. which IS
the type favored. was lost last Novemb ber-
She had a length Of lsS feet. a maximum
diameter Of 81 feet. and was propelled by
lo-horsepower engines. She made q flight
Of ls5iz miles in seven hours and fifteen
Her best speed was 81 miles an hour.
Count Won Zeppelin. the German aero
uaut- who IS now experimenting with his
large dirigibis az Lake Constance is re-
sa-ded by aero1au-s Of the War Depart
ueu- as the foremost designer Of dirig5bIe
balloons. He has built large rigid type
Of machine which has a length OF 4l3 feet.
diameter Of s. feet, and is propelled by
I72-horsepower engines This diriEible has
at % j Of
England. IN a smaller way. has also
taken Up the work Of experimenting with
dl-igihies- Russia is building a fleet OF
four dirigibles Of the La Patrie type
Battle ships Are More Costly.
Oficials OF the Signal Corps believe it
more advisable 10 make an equal appro-
priation for the construction Of large
high-powered d.rigi5les than for battle
ships Of the Connecticut type.
This type OF battle ship. Il IS explained
costs about SS0ooo10, whereas for that
amount OF money forty large GirfgIb1es
could be built Signal Corps officers be-
Neve that II dirigible balloon stations were
established at Boston New York. Nor
folk. Charleston. and Mobile. or the At
lantic coast. and at san Diego. san Fran
cisco. and at BTeuerton. on the Pacific
side. they would form a coast defense OF
Incompatible value
The use Of dirigibles IN war. however.
has been limited by the action of the
Hague Peace Conference prohibiting for
a period extending 20 the close Of the
next peace conference the discharEa II
explosives and projectiles from balloons.
This declaration was ratified by the
United states Senate on March y last
and the United States IS practically the
only world power which signed this de-
claration- Army officers. however. claim
that the declaration Is only intended 10
prevent d!rigible balloons from being
used as Offensive agents. but IL a dirigi-
bic balloon on an observation cruise IS
attacked BY an euemy's guns, the occu-
pants OF the balloon have the legal right
IN accordance with the spirit Of the
Hague declaration regarding explosives
to defend themselves TO the best Of their
ability.