Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
AMONG THE POSSIBILITIES
Coming Test of Airships Under Gov.
eminent Supervision.
ARMY OFFICERS INTERESTED
Results Anxiously Awaited and
Hope Entertained That Congress
Will Be Favorably Impressed.
Ten army aerOnauts eating a MulligaI

stew3
| They're waiting for Baldwin's airship
and have nothing else to do.
This was the army balloon test situa-
tion at Fort Myer yesterday afternoon.
The balloon squad which has been
making preparations for the tests under
the direction Of Lieut. Fouleis has fin
ished the preliminary arrangements in
anticipation of the coming of Capt.
Baldwin's dirigible. which, contrary to
expectation, did not arrive yesterday.
Meantime the balloon squad marked
time. the biggest event on their days
program being their gathering to enjoy
stew they cooked in a big iron pot
in which the varnish is made for the
balloons.
Materi for Baldwn's balloon, which
Is the first of the airships that will
be tried at Fort Myer. is on the
way here from New York. Everything has
been shipped except the motor, and that
will follow in few days. The material
will be assembled in the big balloon house
at Fort Myer. and the trials will begin as
early as possible. though there will proba-
bly, be several unofficial trials before the
War Department board is summoned to
pass on the official flight.
The contract must be concluded and the
balloon delivered or rejected before Au-
gust 81, but it is not believed 1t will take
this long to settle the matter. The first
trials will be in the nature of a builders
experimental test of a warshIp, and will
have no official significance, but 1t will
give line on the performance of the air
ship that will show whether or not 1t is
likely to come up to specifications.
Army officers are greatly interested in
the coming airship trials. and every day
adds to the number of requests from
scientists and others to be notified of the
exact date of the trials. The signal
service, under which the trials are to be
carried on. feels assured that next year
there will be a much larger appropriation
available for aerial navigation expert
ments. The President has promised to
recommend an enlarged appropriation,
and it is hoped that 81, 100000 may be de-
voted to the work.
This Country Behind Others.
AS has been said many times. this coun-
try, while it had the honor Of building the
first machine that was ever flown without
the aid of gas bag, is far behind the
other first-class powers in the develop
partment has just begun to wake up and
take an interest in the subject, and If
everything goes we'll there will be great
activity on the aerial side of the War De- |
partment next year.
The United States has already num-
Der of spherical balloons. and it is the
intention of the chief signal officer. If
money permits, to turn some of these overi
to the Artillery Corps to be shot at OF |
course every one knows that gunners can
hit a captive balloon If they shoot at 1t !
long enough, but there was considerable
interest among the Signal Corps officers
yesterday over the announcement that the
German army had been practicing on
captive balloon at night and had brought |
it down at the first shot. The cable dis
patch did not state the height of the tar
get. but the aim of the War Department
will be to find the conditions under which
balloons are safest from attacks from
the earth.
No plans can be made yet for a system
or balloon stations, as the money the War
Department hopes to have is not avail
able, but the thing has been mapped out
in general way. and working the bal
looms in couples the installation will not
cost over $4,000 a station. OF this
amount the balloon house. or hangar
would cost $4,000. hydrogen gas plant
$4,000. and two balloons, 100000. Sta
tions of this sort scattered along the
lighthouse and live-saving service, where |
there are telegraph and telephone lines
available. would cost very little compared |
with the modern systems of coast DEFENSE
and would be SO mobile as to cover the |
whole coast-better in that respect than
even submarine boats, which are practical |
for little beyond harbor defense.
Abolition Of War Possible.
But there is another phase OF aerial |
navigation that is being discussed by the |
War Department officers that is farther
off but more important even than It's de-
fensive feature. 1t is the possibility of |
aerial navigation abolishing war alto
gether. or entirely altering its character. |
Several OF the officers were discussing the
matter, with a Star reporter and one of |
them said:
This question OF abolishing war is |
not matter Of week after next but |
4 ie, n1o how h. 1t