Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-14
A|RSH|P FOR THE ARMY
Government to Spend S25, 600
For DirigibIe Balloon.
WILL BE USED FOR SCOUTING

American and Foreign Experts viii
Be Asked 70 Submit Bids on One.
Artillery Experts Engaged on Plans
TO Destroy Scout Balloons Of Foes.
Acting Secretary Of War Oliver has
approved the action Of the army ord
nance board in allotting the signal corps
$25,OO0 to be used in getting dirigi-
BILE balloon for scouting purposes, says
Washington special dispatch to the
New York Times. The last efforts OF
the war department to conquer the air
were made under the tutelage of Pro-
lessor Langley. who thought he had
worked out this problem Of flight by
means Of the aeroplane. but In the
final test five years ago his contriyance
came to grief In the tawny waters Of
the Potomac. The experiments made
Mt that time cost more than 100000,
and for them the government has moth
ing to show today but pretty little
engine of aluminium. which It is as
serted can develop ten horse power
and weighs but 300 pounds.
been almost wholly developed since the
death Of Professor Langley, and now
It will be purely business matter for
the government to advertise for bids
and get its wants In the shape Of
skyship. General Allen. chief OF the
signal corps. has sent to all the leading
workers In aeronautics in the United
States and abroad tentative invi-
tation with specifications for such a
dirigible balloon as the army needs.
It is not expected that with the amount
allotted by the ordnance board q salts
factory balloon can be had, but be-
ginning can be made. and as expert
ence points the way larger and more
complete balloon can be procured
The present specifications call for a
two man balloon capable Of carrying
gasoline enough for a three hours
flight. The plan is for one man to de-
vote his attention entirely to the man
agement of the balloon. while the 9TH
er Is left free to reconnoiter, make pho
tographs or draw typographical maps.
The idea is to use coal gas. for reasons
of economy. and the minimum speed re-
quired IL eighteen miles an hour in still
air and from thirty to thirty-f miles
with the wind. The, balloon must
make 100 mile trip successfully
fifty miles out and fifty back. The
price to be paid will doubtless be based
on the speed attained, the successful
contractor receiving a2bonus for every
mile over the maximum set by the de-
partment's specifications or losing pro
rata for every mile under the average
speed called for. .....s....s..,
There are several experts In the
United States who have been at work
In cooperation with the army students
Of aeronautics who think that the re-
! quirements laid down by General Allen
can be met successfully here.
It Is Intended to conduct balloon
drills after the dirigible is bought and
gradually work out many problems
that now confront aeronauts. Ulti-
mately it is hoped dirigible will be
built by the government with the COM
bined skill and ingenuity of all the ex-
pert army officers turned on the job.
1t goes without saying nowadays that
balloons are to be recognized equip
ment Of armies hereafter Already our
artillery experts are at work on ord
nance to combat balloon reconnaissance.
High angle firing is being practiced
with howitzers and special shrapnel
charges are being tried. 1t has been
found that it takes different marks
! manship to hit balloon target high
up In the air from what is required at
distance on the surface of the earth.
! The trajectory is much fiatter. and the
powder charges must be greater to
carry distances that otherwise In or
binary fire take low charge.
The type of balloon aimed at by the
signal officers is not such as private
individuals have brought into promi-
hence, but rather those that have been
develop>1 by the French and British
military experts. These have been sue
cessful beyond all doubt, although the
British war balloon was wrecked re-
!, Gently and is being rebuilt.
lnnrovised linn Crow Car