Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-18
AIRSHIP COAST GUARD.
Signal Corps to Make Plans for At.
lantic SeabOard Defense.

lantic SeabOard Defense.
The creation of big fleet of war
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 Il 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 APP
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 1t hopes that
congress also will awake to Il realiza-
ton of the fact and that appropria
lions will be made sufficient to permit
this government TO keep pace with the
European nations. 1t is 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 tcchnicalities of the matter.
he has general idea of the manner
in which the plan will be worked out
The coast will be separated into
ellipses arproxiinating 30 miles in
length. and at each end of these will
be built two or three balloon houses
and supply dcpots. 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
cessity of accommodating the enemy's
position by the use of Il 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 q given point there will be ac-
commodatiOns for them. \ dirigible is
safe while in the air and even if its
engine should become disabled can be
operated as a free balloon. 1t is In
landing or when at anchor in an en-
posed position that ii is in danger
from winds, and houses are an abso-
lutte necessity.
1t is intended that a coast dirigible
shall not pass off its own station ex-
cept in cases of extremity and that the
sailing distance shall be 12J miles
south and 1o5 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
impossible for hostile fleet to ap
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
! maneuvers be sent the length Of the
coast.
! The plans will include an elaborate
system of vertical searchlights. 10y
| 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 il
| signaling the swift flying ships over
| head.
The dirigibles that congress will bt
asked to provide will be the equals o.
the best war balloons now in use IL
Europe. The envelopes will be not less
| than 200 feet long. twice the length o
the United States dirigible No. 1. re
Gently purchased by the war depart
ment from Captain Baldwin. Dirigiblt
No. 1, Major Squier explained. is mere
| ly practice ship and bears small re
Semblance to the finished flierS that ar
contemplated in the coast defense plan
Id order to support the dirigible
and act as couriers between the va
rious depots and artillery stations it /
thought that the plan will call for
small mobile fleet Of aeroplanes. Thi
phase Of the proposed measures ha
not yet been taken up, although off
GERS of the signal corps believe tina
the aeroplane could be used to advar
tage when quick flights were Ieces
sary for the carrying of orders or tn
transportation of officers 1t woul
be used practically altogether as a
auxiliary. aud it's use would reliev
the dirigible Of certain duties. permi
ting the balloon to give it's entire tim
to patrol work.
If congress can be prevailed upo
to look with favor on the signal corps
proposal steps will be taken to char
the air currents along the coast. 1t
believed that the air currents are 4
sharply defined as the currents of tn
ocean. While they are not so stabl
it is held that their general trend ca
be determined.
! There are so many expensive detail
such as these that the cost will be e,
tremely heavy in creating such a
aerial fleet.