The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-07-28
A|RSH|P COAST GUARD
Signal Corps to Make Plans For
Atlantic Seaboard Defense.
AEROPLANES AS AUxlLlARIES.

Balloon Houses to Be Erected al
Strategic Points Along the Coast
Which 10 TO- Be Divided Into Zones
With Oirigibles 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 task
set for Major George o. Squier Of the
signal corps. says a Washington dis.
patch. Major SQuier recently received
instructions to prepare plans for the
aerial defense OF the Atlantic coast,
and he set to work enthusiastically.
The plans when completed and ap-
proved will serve az a model for the
Pacific and gulf coasts.
in the light Of the achievement Of the
Zeppelin balloon, that the era Of aerial
navigation has arrived. 1t hopes that
congress also will awake to a realiza-
ton Of the fact and that a~ppropria.
lions viii be made sufficient to permit
SAAO 8OVS A1CA W AVCR R0S0 Will I1C
European nations. It h In anticipa-
ton Of favorable action by congress
that the signal corps has been in.
structed to prepare the plans.
While Major Squier has not yet gone
into the technicalities Of the matter,
he has a general idea Of the manner
in which the plan will be worked out.
The coast will be separated into
ellipses approximating $50 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 a 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 me-
cessity Of accommodating the enemy's
position by the use Of a balloon.
The balloon houses will be built in
groups, so that when it is found expe-
dent to concentrate two or three air.
ships at a given point there will be &C.
commodations for them. A dirigible is
safe while in the air and even if it's
engine should become disabled can be
operated as a free balloon. 1t is in
landing or when at anchor in an eX-
posed position that 1t is in danger
from winds, and houses are an abso~
lutte necessity.
It is intended that q coast dirigible'
shall not pass off its " station ex
cept In cases Of extremity and that the
sailing distance shall be 1875 miles
south and 125 miles north from its de.
pot. In this manner the entire coast
from Maine to Florida will be patrol.
led in war, and it will be practically
proach the United States without be-
ing discovered long before the senti.
nels on land could see the vessels.
Once discovered the fleets movements
could be watched with safety and its
be sent the length Of the
coast.
The plans viii include an elaborate
system of vertical searchlights, by
which the airships will be guided dur.
ing night flights. These will mark the
various batteries and the balloon de-
pots, and they also will be used in
signaling the swift flying ships over
head.
The dirigibles that congress will be
asked to provide will be the equals of
the best wal balloons now in use in
Europe. The envelopes VIII be not less
than 200 feet long, twice the length of
the United States dirigibfe No. 1, re.
Gently purchased by the wal depart.
ment from Captain Baldwin. Dirigible
No. /, Major Squier explained, is mere.
ly a practice ship and bears small re.
semblance to the finished fiers that are
contemplated in the coast defense plan.
In order to support the dirigibles
and act as couriers between the va
rious depots and artillery stations it is
thought that the plan will call for a
small mobile feet Of aeroplanes. This
phase Of the proposed measures has
not yet been taken up, although off,
GERS of the signal corps believe that
the aeroplane could be used to advan-
tage when quick flights were neces-
sary for the carrying Of orders or the
transportation Of officers. It would
be used practically altogether as an
auxiliary, and its use would relieve
the dirigible Of certain duties, permit
ting the balloon to give its entire time
to patrol work.
If congress car be prevailed upon
to look with favor OF the signal corps
proposal steps win be taken to chart
the air currents along the coast. It Is
believed that the air currents are "a
sharply defined rs the currents Of the
ocean. While they are not so stable
It Is held that their general trend can
be determined.
There are so many expensive details
such as these that the cost will be ex'
tremely heavy in creating such an
aerial feet
Clothes and the Vacation.
Father wants to have It spent
In natures loneliness,