Bisbee daily review., 1914-06-30
WAR BALLOONS.

wan IN%NCbNo'
Worldwide interest turns to the approaching at
tempt of Lieut. Porte to make the first transatlantic
trip an aeroplane Largely on account the impetus
by those striving machines Of war
nautcs made tremendous strides in the last
decade that few persons to look back to the records
of hundred and twenty years ago when the balloon
made its first appearance as an engine Of war
One hundred and twenty years ago today the balloon
made its first successful appearance engine Of war
II was at the battle Of Fleurus during the French
luton u was this balloon that enabled the revolution
lists to win the battle and subsequently establish the
French Republic At sunrise Of this day the huge sken
bag inflated with hydrogen. was Juggling its anchor
ropes in the French Republican camp. The opening Of
the battle signal for General Morlot to climb into
the basket The soldiers slowly let the cable until
the balloon and rose high battlefield
Beneath him lay the encmys lines in full While
the balloon gently eddied breeze Morlot drew
sketch Of the enemys strategic position and then tossed
it overheard in heavy nag-bcdecked package. Thus
every Of the foe reported to the commander
in-chef the ground below during the ten hours in
which the balloon remained aloft The commanders
questions written and attached a cord that hung
balloon were hauled mp by the and
quickly answered The idea Of using a balloon i'm war
fare had been conceived but not used twelve years
fore the Siege Of Gibraltar At that time Joseph Mont
wolder who later the worlds first successful pas
senger-carryng balloon proposed ITO introduce into CT
braItar entire army which. borne by the wind and
gas will enter right above the heads Of the enemy"
But the siege was raised before his could be dem
onstrated
Today airships constitute one OF the most important
factors in modern warfare Am the great world powers
have equipped their with fleets Of aeropcnes and
dirigble balloons, scientists bending en-
ergy toward inventng new explosives and perfecting
means Of hurting them the clouds with greater
curacy. Some authorities even predict that the next
great viii be fought the clouds by squadrons Of
airships Today American aviators are scouting
the Mexican lines around Vera Cruz. and are demon
stratng their marvellous utility. Equipped with the late
devices the utramodern army hy the
enemys country sketch or photograph the topography Of
the land below the forts cities and troop positions By
wireless telegraph he can send back the information to
gun he can defend himself with stream of bullets or
he drop high explosive bombs from his lofty craft
scattering death wherever il strkes-a year ago it
reported Mexican rebel aeronaut dropped bomb that
killed 50 soldiers instantly If it is night the aeronaut
drop bomb that explodes and shades lasting
and radiant light the spot he 50 lowering To
escape from the new guns designed to fight air
ships the modern aeronaut can drop the German
that spreads dense heavy pain Of smoke between
earth and airahp thus permit the aviator TO
or he can drop another kind which gives of poisonous
gas capable Of killing every living thing within 400 yards