The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-07-22
A|RSH|P COAST GUARD
Signal Corps to Make Plans For
Atlantic Seaboard Defense.
AERoPLANEs AS AUxILlARIEs.
Balloon Houses to Be Erected At
stratssie Points Along the Coast,
Which 10 to Be Divided into Zones
With Dlrieiblss In Each Zone.

| Which 10 to Be Divided Into Zone
With Dirigiblss In Each Zone.
The creation of a big feet OF wal
balloons, with depots at strategic
points along the coasts Of the United
States In which the aerial craft may
be housed between flights. Is the tasl
set for Major George o. Squier Of the
signal corps. says Washington dis
patch. Major Squler recently received
Instructions to prepare plans for the
aerial defense OF the Atlantic coast
and he set to work enthusiastically
The plans when completed aud ap-
proved will serve as u model for the
Pacific and gulf coasts.
The war department is convinced
In the light OF the achievement OF the
Zeppelin balloon. that the era OF aerial
navigation has arrived. Ii hopes that
congress also will awake to n reallza-
ton of the fact and that approprla-
lions will be made sufficient 10 permit
this government to keep pace with the
European nations. 1t Ii In antlclpa-
tion of favorable action by congress
that the signal corps has been In
structed to prepare the plans.
While Major Squler has not yet gone
into the technicalltles of the mutter.
he has general idea of the manner
in which the plan will be worked out
The coast Will be separated Into
elllpses approxlmating 80 miles In
length. and at each end OF these will
be built two or three balloon houses
and supply depots. The houses will
be placed with view TO close coop
Grafton with the artillery depots or
zones, thus gaining protection and be-
ing quickly reached whenever the men
behind the big guns discover the ne
cesslty of accommodating the enemy's
position by the use OF n balloon.
The balloon houses Will be built In
groups. so that when 1t Is found expe-
dent 10 concentrate two or three air
ships at given point there will be ne
for them. A dirigible is
safe while In the air and even IL Its
engine should become disabled can be
operated as free balloon. 1t Is In
landing or when at anchor In an ex-
posed position that II Is In danger
from winds. and houses are an abso-
lutte necessity.
IL Is intended tina. a coast dlrigible
shall not pass on It's own station ex-
cept In cases OF extremity and that the
sailing distance shall be 1875 miles
south and t25 miles north from its de-
pot. In this manner the entire coast
from Maine to Florida Will be patrol |
ed In war. aud II viii be practically |
impossible for hostile feet To APP /
,roach the United States without be-
ng discovered long before the senti-
iels on land could see the vessels. |
)nce discovered the fleets movements I
'ould be watched with fety and its
be sent the length OF the
cast
system OF vertical searchlights. by
which the airshlps VIII be guided dur
ng night flights. These will mark the
farious batteries aud the balloon de-
'ots. aud they also will be used In
the swift hyipg shIps over.
ead.
The dirigibles that congress will be
sked to provide will be the equals of
be best war balloons now In use In
Europe. The envelopes viii be not less
han 600 feet long twice the length OF
be United States dlriglble No. I. re-
entity purchased by the war depart
tent from Captain Baldwin. Dirigible
%. l. Major Sauier explained Is mere
: practice ship aud bears small re-
'mblance to the finished fiiers that are
IN the coast defense plan.
10 cHler TO support the dlrigibles
nd act az couriers between the va
Gus depots and artillery stations 1t Is
lought that the plan will call for a