New-York tribune., 1909-01-25
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Congress FrO7Cns on Military
Balloon Experiments.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, January "a
AERONAUTICs DISCOURAGED.-The army
signal corps officers who have recently appeared
before the House Appropriations Committee failed
convince the legislators of the military necessity
Of balloons and equipment. General Allen. the
chief signal officer. urged allotment OF $4,000.
and explained that this would furnish two Of the
latest design dirgibles, construct large balloon
house cost 10000 install hydrogen plant pro
vide the tubes the compressed gas TO cost
ST. 600. and furnish the means OF developing and
equipping a military aeronautic branch OF the
army. The failure provide this sum for mill
tary aeronaurics is probably due TO the view which
is expressed hy some army officers to the i'm
practica bilty of the balloon part Of the equip
ment of army in time of One Of the doubts
expressed by the experts is based the fact that
the balloon is uncertain Of guidance. and must, az
bes-. he Of restricted usefulness. Then too, 1t is
vulnerable 10 attack although to what extent is
NOT precisely known by the critics But the
most important element which has entered into the
considerations OF aeronautics for use by an army
in the field is the fact that IT possesses practically
value means Of defence. and is still less
available q factor Of offence This latter defect
arises from the fact which is put forth with
considerable earnestness, that II would be impos-
sible carry heavy charges of high explosives.
such as dynamite, in aerial vehicle There would
be opportunity discharge II with effect, while
analysis of the scheme which contemplates
dropping receptacles lad IN with explosives shows
that even If practicable Insignificant amount OF
destruction would be done. It is pointed out that
II foolish talk of destroying city by any such
overhead direction Of explosives At best q build
ing might be damaged. The only value of such a
method is in the moral efect-by the consterna-
ton created ar present among those who do not
fully appreciate how little the baloon contributes
to disaster Of any sort in
ARMY DETAIL SYSTEM-Nembers Of the
House and Senate military committees have
rnunicated 70 the military authorities their approval
of the various suggestions which have been made
from departmental commanders and heads of star
corps in favor of the change in the detail system
This has been in vogue several years and serves
TO supply the special staT corps with personnel by
the detail of line officers quartermasters, com
rnissaries and payrnasters. II has been insisted
these withdrawals of line officers for special
staff duty operates disadvantage to the dis
clpline Of the line and impairs its efficiency. The
most favored proposition Is that which will con-
tinue the detail system only IN the case OF junior
officers Of the special staff corps, the senior per
sonnel to be permanent and the members TO he
selected from those who in the subordinate
grade in detailed capacity. BY this means there
will be dnninution of absenteeism from the line,
especially in the case Of majors Lieutenant colonels
and colonels. II is foreseen that when it becomes
necessary to detail coloneIs to the special staff
corps there will be difficulty in obtaining officers OF
that grade since line colonel will assuredly pre-
fer 10 remain with his command. But the military
committees will take action since the War De
partment has formally brought the subject to
the attention of Congress- except so far as it is
7bodipd of department commanders and
heads Of staff corps is believed that the change
will be made within the few years, since the
Objectionable features of the system have been
parent and have the subject or many appeals
for relief.
VALUABLE OFFICERS DUTY-The chief Of
ordnance Of the army General William Crozier.
has opposed with emphasis and success the plan
Of Lieutenant Colonel B. ". Dunn of the ordnance
department to go the retired list next June upon
completion of thirty years service. This retire
ment may take place only upon the application oil
the officer most directly concerned with the ap-
provaI OF the President Colonel Dunn since June.
1907 has been on special duty in connection with
the railroad association for the purpose OF revising
the regulations governing the transportation OF eN
posyes II was understood that the officer would
he engaged on this special duty for year, but the
reriod has been extended February l, although
General Crozier opposed the original assignment TO
duty and disapproved the request which would keep
Colonel Dunn who is a valuable officer from MS
regular duties with the ordnance department
where his services are much needed The latest
reouest was to have Colonel Dunn continued on
the special work until next June, when 1t became
known that Colonel Dunn desired TO retire accom-
nanItnp such application with the request that ne
ba nernitted to continue his service with the ri-
road association presumably under pay from thaI
source General Crozier has insisted that ColoheI
Dunn return 10 duty. and the President mas Gisap-
proved the application for retirement