Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-08-08

Time has fully demonstrated the
value OF the air service In war, and
experts say that many of the great
decisive and effective battles OF the
future will be fought in the air.
This appears TO be confirmed by the
great activity of the Signal Corps and
the passing unanimously by the House
and Senate and the signing without
delay of the till appropriating six
hundred and forty million dollars for
aeronautics
II has been said that the United
States would require, TO do its bit in
the war, %, 600 masters OF aeronaut-
ical apparatus, that Is, men capable
of flying the airplane and hydroplane
and Greeting The movements vi Tue
akite'i or observation balloon, known
as aviators or balloon pilots.
The work of the aviator lis well
known, and the marvellous results OF
these air. speeders; the work accom-
plished by them as the eyes Of the
army, is published from time TO time
in the dispatches from abroad. The
! fastest machines attain a speed Of 40
miles per hour.
The observers in them locate the
position of the enemy's armies and
guns, and protect cities and towns
from attack, although at times the
enemy flyers get by the watchtulness
of the allied air feet with disastrous
results to humanity and property.
All aviators ana balloon pilots be-
come officers in the aviation section
of the Signal Officers Reserve Corps
of the Army Immediately upon grad
uating, being commissioned as first
lieutenants with a base salary OF 81, !
900 annually and additional compen-
sation W hen in active service at home
and abroad.
The usefulness of the "kite'' or sta
| tionary balloon is not generally known
One familiar with its employment
says that at the balloon schools, an APP
plicant for officers commission must
| first qualify as pilot of spherical
balloons. Then they are taught to
become pilots and observers in the
| 'tkiteo balloons.
/. This balloon is allowed to ascend to
| height of about 1000 feet with wire
cable attached TO il by which it is
drawn down when desired by motor
| power.
| In war, these balloons are located
from three to five miles from the
| first line of trenches, and from the
| basket two men, pilot and an OBJ
server, give the range and result OF
| firing by telephone to the artillery.
| On the western front they are placed
| from one=half to mile apart, accord
| ing to conditions, and are provided
with parachutes attached to the men
| in the basket; in event of accident to
the balloon the men parachute safely
to the earth.
Men who have not been called for
physical examination under the draft
and who have had a college education
may make application for commits
sion as first lieutenant in the Aviation
Section of Signal Officers Reserve
| Corps as aviatoIs or balloon pilots,
provided they are not under 19 or
over 80 years of age. While college
min are preferred, application from
those who have graduated from high
| school and have exceptionally good
qualifications will be considered. If
the applicant is approved, the appli-
can't will be notified to appear before
a medical board for examination. If
this is satisfactory, he is assigned to
schools for training.
| While at schools soldiers pay, ra-
tions. and sleeping accommodations
are allowed, the officers pay follow
| ing graduation and assignment to
duty as first lieutenant
Men having a trade who cannot fill
the qualifications required for avia-
ton or balloon pilots, can enter the
aviation service by enlistment.