The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-03-20
Scientist Tells Of Plans to
Flood Teutonic Countries With
Propaganda by Toy" Balloons
Prevailing Air Currents
Over Europe, Professor
Says, Form Steady Drift
Over France Toward
Teuton Empires.

NNNN'A AfiAA l'Ai We
LEXINGTON. Va March 2O-(Spr.
cillJ PROT Henry Lewis Smith, preSi-
dent OF Washington and lee University
u father Of a unique idea for the spread
INK Of propaganda among the common
people oi Germany and Au,trla-Hun-
gary The prevailing ar currents over
Europe. he point, out, form an almost
steady drift oi arr moving over France
and Italy toward, the Iculon empires
lie would use these currents by send
Ing up countless small balloons bearing
propaganda messages The air currents
would carry them over into the home
districts oi the central powers. 10 their
uJarms. their towns and dooyardS and
Ho censorship could prevent the people
from getting direct and truthful news
OF thing, outside Gcrmany'S domains.
Professor Smith believes that iron
clad ignorance and skilliully applied
mi,iniorma,ion arc the two hypnotlling
agents by which the military masters
OF Germany's restless and suffering mil
lions keep them loyal and obedient
Widespread misery and discomfort,
growing diglrust Of their military
leaders, and the examples of Russia
have made German and Austrian public
opinion less dooie and more explosive
than since 1919, according to the
scientist lie says
Bomb Them With Notes.
'In this state Of affairs Il we could
shell the German people behind the lines
with facts and ideas, these missiles
would not only have a more destructive
effect Of military Germany than our
bomb,hclls on the western front, but
would act as permanently reconstruct
i've forces IN building a non-militant
Germany for the future
"If the masses Of the German people
could read for themselves the messages
Of President Wilson and the other
allied statesmen could receive the argu-
ments and appeals OF reiormers in every
land. could learn the facts concerning
the war and the state Of public opinion
throughout the world their blind
loyalty cemcnied by ignorance and
falsehood. would be fatally and per
manently di'nteRrated'
Professor Smith then outlines his
balloon method-one which he believes
could accomplish this result rapidly
jrexpcnsiyely and thoroughly in spite
81 frontier guards and police super
vision. and also without violating
morals Of international law, imperil
ing its agents, or interfering with
present military operations. The Solu-
ton in brief, in the professors words,
IL:
Southwest Winds Prevail
"Thc whole curying battle line from
Flanders to Trieste, and on to the
Strait OF Otranto. is in the region OF
the north temperate airdriit from the
southwest, blowing with comparative
steadiness directly across the line over
Germany and Austria Hungary and be
coming switcr and less interrupted by
local disturbances as the higher air
strata are reached this airdriit to he
utilized to carry over the whole empire
irnumcrable small balloons carrying the
desired messages each carrier timed
to float a certain period before de
scending with its message to the earth.
(The accompanying map shows the re-
lation Of this dominant ardriit to the
battle line and reveals the effectiveness
OF this proyidcntial ally)
"The carriers should he made OF rub
Der, oiled paper. etc. and OF various
kinds and sizes. hut all small The tim.
ing OF the carriers could be effected nv
various easily applied devices The
thickness and permeability OF the en-
velope, the nature and pressure Of the
gas employed, the use Of evaporation or
slow chemical reactions the insertion
through the envelope Of capillary tubes
or porous plugs their release at d,i-
fcrent heightS-thcSe and other similar
devices could control the period Of flo
iaton and hence determine the place OF
landing In the case Of hot-air carriers
this could he accomplished by varying |
The size and combustion period Of the !
heat producing candle or other agent
beneath.
Could Use Clockwork
"From larger balloons floating clear |
across Germany, messages could be re
leased at constant intervals by clock !
work, progressive chemical action, or
other similar devices.
Taunching the balloons with their |
messages could he easily and safely !
effected behind our lines
"Ground stations, especially on hills
and mountains. equipped for rapid in
flation, could launch millions, each riS-
ing TO a predetermined height and drift
ing a predetermined time Anchored |
'sausages' similarly equipped and work
ins At different heights, would emit |
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