The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-05-19
GERMAN AERONAUTS
ARE MUCH AROUSED
Clubs Interested in Reform
Legislation
DANGER is CAUSED FROM Lightning
Why Balloonists Strive to Rise Above
Thunderstorms. Noted German
Geologist Plans Explora-
ton Trip Through Sahara.

Berlin-The recent fatal accidents
to eight German balloonists have
caused such a painful impression
that an earnest agitation has been
launched for a more strict control Of
aeronautical sport. The kaiser has
identified himself with the movement
and has given orders that a number
Of expert reports shall be laid be-
fore him relating to the possibility
OF preventing such catastrophes as
have recently occurred.
German aeronauts themselves are
thoroughly interested in balloon
reform" Several important clubs
are prepared to support law which
shall make 1t a misdemeanor to as
cend In balloon unless telegraphic
assurance has been received from
the central meteorological station at
Aix-la-Chapelle that the weather
outlook, as far as human prognos-
tigation can go is favorable. Such
assurances will, of course, be no
guarantee against disaster. Only
week or two ago, for instance, DUR
ing a trial at Stuttgart, in which
Count Zeppelin was sued for dam
ages In connection with the wreck of
the Zeppelin w at Echterdingen in
August, 1908, 1t was stated that half
a dozen eminent meteorologists had
assured the count on the morning Of
the fateful day that conditions far a
cross-coUntry flight were ideal.
Attention has been specially direct
ed to the manner in which balloons
are likely to be struck by lightning.
Accidents of the kind are not I'M
common In the case of dragon kites
and captive balloons, and it is we'll
known that the nearer the earth the
aerostat Is the likelier it is to be
struck. The incident was not re-
ported, but few weeks ago a So
called "kite-balloon," sent up from
the Berlin Astrological institute at
Lindenberg, was struck when a hun
dred feet from the ground and dis
appeared in flame.
AS rule the free balloon as 1t
ascends acquires the same electric
SUFFICIENTLY as the air that surrounds
1t, and as there is no difference in
the media of transmission, there is
no spark, and consequently no fire.
On the other hand, 1t 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, it
is believed, was the cause of the acct
dent at Rome in 1907, when Capt.
Ulivelli Of the military airship corps
assembled about a thousand feet IN
the presence of the king and queen
of Italy, only from that height to fall
at their feet in his burning balloon.
Balloonists are often advised to rise
above a storm in which they may
happen to drift. This is easier said
tlan done, for owing to the noise of
rain or hail on the balloon it is not
always possible to detect the exist
ence of thunder, the accompaniment
of lightning nor has the balloonist
always sufficient ballast for the pur-
pose
DR.. Siegert, a well known Ger
man geologist in an address be-
fore the imperial Aero Club of Ber-
lin the other day, outlined a scheme
for exploring the unknown regions
OF the Eastern Sahara by means of
a combined airship and motor car ex-
petition.