The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-09-26
BALLOON IN WAR
DOES GREAT WORK
GEL ELEPHANTS" USED FOR OeSER-
vATioM AND TO DIRECT
FIRE OF BATTERIES.
PILOTS PARACHUTE JUMPERS

Thousand Community Labor Boards
Nave Been Oruanized-Gun Produc-
ton for Arm, Grows RapidIy-iron
Rations Ordered.
fFrom Commits, on Iuhiic Information
Washington Ip to "a few years ago,
In the public mind. nll balloons were
nssm,nlrd with parachute jumpers.
county fairs and rirruSrS. They We're
used very much like their rival the old
side show. fun OF freaks. solely to
draw II crowd. Today Uncle sam is
making balloons and training their op.
orators for distinctly. another purpose.
The ungninly old balloon of circus days
is now Il rival of its smarter and more
modern brother, the airpanc. in the job
OF being eyes for the army and navy.
A dead industry WAS revived when the
war balloon was originated.
Swinging far nloft at the end Of II
cable. these "rlrplInntS." aS they are
now called, support trained observers
who, by means of powerful field glasses
and telephones, give range and dirrc-
don to batteries. These in turn, with
well directed shots, put enemy batter
les out Of business and break up infnn
try forming for attack. a stationary
balloon four or iivr thousand feet in
the air is an ideal place for IN OBJ
server.
So Uncle Sans parachute jumpers
are being instructed today, not as
cnicr;".i.@v% g. draw and thrill crowds
by leaps from the Clouds" but for
their own personal safety and
the safety Of their records made
at high elevations. when Il Shell
ar IN enemy nirplanr rips their
balloon and they have to Jump. For
although their balloon may he destroy
ed, the men in the basket usually come
safely To cnrth and bring their maps
and photographs With them. Ii is life
full Of excitement these men of the bal
loon lend, and t" he n member one has
to have plenty of nerve, courage and
daring In his makeup.
Aviators take on their hats to the
bali"on men. one recently returned
American air pilot told of an adventure
~ '' :
u.o,,, 80 u ~, ""' "eeo''''ns III ''''
,,,n,ro, ~, ", Wy '"'..' W
ed below him; when suddenly the bal
~. ,' '" '''', "l''',i '''' '"'N !" Sr'
''"p' W. w. ~
climbed to the edge OF the basket.
shouted: BEAT II; follow me-" and
"p,"." ~ '"' ','t' ne "',
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'"'r "''" VI" n"'' rory uiia'e'F thr
."'''S pune was beaten OH oy aiii"a
plaheS before IT could get any nearer,
rfo'"st MarShai Grnerai Srowdr'
was requested by the British embassy
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