The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15
BALLOON REFORM
BEING AGITATED
Recent Accidents in Germany
Start Movement
TO EXPLORE THE DESERT
Combination of Airship and Motor Car
VIII be Used in Scientific Adven-
ture-Prophetic Vision of
German Invasion

fatal accidents to eight German balloon
lists have caused such painful impress
sion that an earnest agitation has been
launched for more strict control of aero
nautical sport. The Kaiser has identified
himself with the movement and has given
orders that number of expert reports
shall be laid before him relating to the
possibility of preventing such catastro-
Plies as have recently occurred
German aeronauts themselves are thor
oughly interested in balloon reform"
Several important clubs are prepared to
support law which shall make it
misdemeanor to ascend in balloon un-
less telegraphic assurance has been re-
ceived from the central meteorological
station at Aix-la- Chapele that the wealth
err outlook, as far as human prognosti-
cation can go, is favorable. Such assur-
ances will, of course. be no guarantee
against disaster. Only a week or two
ego, for instance, during a trial at SUIT
CART, in which Count Zeppelin was sued
for damages In connection with the wreck
OF the Zeppelin ". at Echterdingen in
August, 1908. 1t was stated that half a
dozen eminent meterologists had assured
the count on the morning of the fateful
day that conditions for a cross-country
flight were ideal.
Attention has been specially directed to
the manner in which balloons are likely
to be struck by lightning Accidents of
the kind are not uncommon In the case
Of dragon kites and captive balloons, and
ba a
earth the aerostat is the likeler 1t is TO
be struck. The incident was not reported,
but few weeks ago sO-ealled kite
balloon sent up from the Berlin aerolog
ical institute at Lndenberg, was struck
when 100 feet from the ground and dis
appeared in flame.
AS rule the free balloon as it ascends,
acquires the same electric subjectivity
as the air that surrounds it, and as there
is no difference in the media of trans
mission there is no spark and consequent
ly no fire. On the other hand, it may
happen that the balloon comes between
the earth and electricity attracted to the
| earth and that the lightning thus passes
through the balloon. This, 1t Is believed,
was tn cause of the accident at Rome in
1907. when Capt. Ulivelli of the military
airship corps assembled about 1000 feet in
the presence of the King and Queen of
Italy, only from that height to fall at
their feet in his burning balloon. Bal
| loonists are often advised to rise above
a storm in which they may happen to
| drift. This Is easier said than done, for
| owing to the noise of rain or hail on the
balloon 1t is not always possible to de-
| tect the existence of thunder, the accom-
paniment of lightning, nor has the bal
loonist always sufficient ballast for the
purpose
|
DR.. Siegert we'll known German ge-
ologist, in an address before the Imperial
Aero club of Berlin the other day, out
lined a scheme for exploring the unknown
| regions OF the eastern Sahara by means
of combined airship and motor-car ex-
petition. DR.. Siegert pointed out that the
eastern Sahara, on account of it's natural
position, Its favorable meteorological con-
ditions and the traffic facilities of the
Nile valley. is peculiarly well adapted for
exploration of airships Eminent geo.
graphical authorities, including the pres
idents of several societies in GERMANY.
have pronounced the plan to be feasible
and full of promise from a scientific
standpoint. DR.. Siegert reckons the cost
of $3.50, 900.
| Colonel Gadke, the "enfant terrible,
among German military and naval ex-
perts, who recently brought Goals of Off
cial fire upon his head by telling the
truth about the Kaiser's "Dreadnought"
4 cruisers, In the Tageblatt, this week gives
prophetic vision of German invasion
of England Discussing "Landsing Pos
sibilities," the colonel writes:
Neither German landing in England,
with 10000 or 10000 men, as Lord Rob-
erts thinks, or with less than 10000, as
the government itself seems to believe
| is practically possible. The landing of a
division would perhaps, under favorable
conditions, be theoretically conceivable,
but owing to Englands well organized
means of internal defense 1t would be
hopeless and worthless. We would GER
tainly not sacrifice division for such a
raid, or, better said, a free-bootng ex-
petition.
IF we wanted to harass or devastate
the English coasts, there would be other
means. The ris1ing of an army division
would not correspond with the gain
which could be derived. II, however the
improbable should occur. namely, that
the English fleet, even for a brief spell,
should be wiped off the North sea, then
we should certainly land, not with 10000
or 10000 men, but with at least 100000
and with a formidable enough equipment
to enable us to bring the war to de-
cisive finish In England ITSELF
Discussing the possibility of an English
Invasion of Germany, the colonel regards
such an operation possible only II Ger
many were pre-occupied on her French
and Russian frontiers; If the English
army had established bases in Holland
and Belgium. and enjoyed the support OF
Dutch and Belgium military contingents;
or If an English army, supported by DAN
ish troops, could march against the Kali
ser Wilhelm canal from base in Dem
mark. Heavy defensive forces, Colonel
Gadke points out. should be maintained
to avert the latter danger.
A movement has been started in Ger
many for the cultivation of ambidexteri-
ty The idea is that developing the pow
er to use both hands equally we'll means
developing the intelligence In general and
the memory in particular. 1t has been
scientifically ascertained that while right
handed people have the organ of speech
on the left side of the brain and vice
versa, people who are ambldexterious
have two language centers, one in each
lobe of the brain. The infant begins life
with two speech centers. but as the right
hand is gradually trained and the left
neglected, the right speech center grad
ually grows torpid and useless. The ex-
Extraordinary claim Is now made that by
the cultivation of the left hand the ca
pacity of the right speech center Of the
brain can be revived, and to that extent |
broadens the intelligence as ambidexterity
increases the use of the human beings
hands.
Instances are quoted by supporters of
the movement in which practicing the
left hand has rescued a power OF speech
till then paralyzed. One patient in ques-
+io,, x,,o g stricken nv paralysis of tho left