The Penn's Grove record., 1908-07-17
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, D. C.-Convinced of
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, includ-
ing General Allen, are convinced that
the Government can afford to invest
Sl0,000,00O in this type of military
air craft, but the amount to be urged
Immediately will be an even $1,000
900. IT this appropriation is granted
1t is the intention to establish coast
defense balloon stations and to drill
men in the dropping of high explo-
slves 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,
600, but scaled its estimate down to
100000, and Congress appropriated
nothing. 1t is now believed that
with the demonstrations made by
Count Zeppelin in Switzerland and
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 we'll 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-
oeriments to demonstrate that the
heavier than air" flying machines
ire without promise for practical mil
ltary purposes, and that before Con-
gress meets it will be apparent that
he dirigible balloon is the only really
available thing in this line for mill
larry purposes.
The United States is the only lead
ing Power that has yet signed the
declaration of the last Hague con-
ference prohibiting the discharge of
projectiles and explosives from bal
looms. That declaration was ratified
by the Senate on March 10 last, and
Il prohibits for a period extending to
he close of the third peace conference
LIE 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 war between
two or more of them" and ceases
to be binding when in a war between
contracting Powers one of the bel
Iigerents is joined by a non-contract-
Ing Power.
This declaration has not been
signed by Germany. Austria-Hungary,
China, Great Britain, Italy, Japan,
Russia and a number of smaller coun-
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 it it is contended that the
United States should be prepared to
meet them on an equal footing by
equipping itself with a feet 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 its 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 con-
tract to make the necessary five-mile
flight within thirty days after July 27.
The only other contestants 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 Is, and the
Wright brothers flight must be with
in thirty days after August %. Each
test will be held separately and in
public.