The Washington herald., 1909-06-03
PLANS AIR CRAFT
TO WATCH COAST
Secretary Orders Scheme for
AerOnautic Protection.
TO USE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS
Success of Coant ZeppeIin'S Flights in
Germany Prompts the Secretary Of
War "a Believe Airship the safest
Method OF Guarding the seabOards
of the United states

Secretary Of War Dickinson yesterday
issued instructions TO the Chief Signal
officer Of the army. under whose control
is all Of the army's aeronaUucal work, 70
have prepared for future use a compre-
hensive plan for the protection OF the
Atlantic coast by dirigible balloons and
other air craft Of the entire Atlantic
coast
This IS the first step toward the use OF
| balloons In warfare by the United States
| government, and was. in a measure, the
I outcome OF the remarkable performance
| OF Count Zeppelin a few days ago, when
/ the German inventor demonstrated the
possibilities OF aerial navigation.
The work OF making the plan has been
turned over TO Mai. George o. Squiers
Of the Signal Corps. one OF the army's
! foremost aeronauucaI experts. and man
Of wide experience with balloons and
/ aeroplanes.
/ So far the plan is tentative, and viii
/ probably not be outlined for several
weeks. The scheme involves the estab-
/ Hshment OF balloon houses all along the
Atlantic coast. from Maine 20 Florida
These stations. according 20 the pre-
liminary ideas Of the experts. viii be
about 30 miles apart. this being con-
/ sidered a safe limit Of fight for the
airship Of the present day.
At each station there VIII be groups
of two. and probably three. OF these
balloon houses. so that II an airshiI
from one station makes its way 20 an
other there win be a place for storing
and taking care Of Il.
Zones Along Coast.
The coast Will be divided into zones
and airships viii be assigned to each
zone. The zone VIII extend a specified
distance seaward from each station. The
experts DO not know how many airship.
will be necessary TO protect the coast fl
a satisfactory way.
It is not the present intention 70 use
airships as fighting craft The idea i!
that the most efficient and useful worl
of the airship IS TO go scouting at sea
flying back TO shore 10 give the alarm
when a fleet Of the enemy is sighted
Should the enemy send up airships from
the ships the land batteries viii be sup
= posed TO take care OF them.
Much Money Needed.
, / The decision 70 nave an aef4al nee
means a large expenditure Of money anC
the recruiting. training. and maintenance
o. a large aerial corps. The War Depart
ment realizes that aerial work IS of TIT
greatest importance. Congress, however
= has been somewhat backward about pro
. viding money. but in view OF the wonder
e fui accomplishments abroad It is believet
! that at the next session Congress vii
probably make ample provision for tn
purchase or air craft.
The type Of balloon 10 be used for cOas
= defense has not been decided upon. bu
il will be Of the most approved pattern
probably modelled after the best Euro
= pean dirigibles. which have had the & eat
n est success so far, and viii be more tha
J 900 feet long. Aeroplanes probably wi
not be used, as the winds OF the coas
will make their work uncertain and un
satisfactory as compared with that Of tn
lighter-than-air craft.
In the course Of time plans viii be draw
{ FOR the defense Of all OF this country
= coast line. but the beginning Of the wor
g will be on the Atlantic coast The balloo
houses will be OF the highest types. sim
ilar TO a house at Fort Omaha. Nebl
), The work Of the Signal Corps aeronauti
experts at Fort Omaha viii be continued
; and before long the finest aerial static
. in the world viii have been finished q
that military post.