The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-02-11
MARK POSITIONS OF
 TRENCH LINES

FRENCH FRONT. Jan. 15.-From the shores of the North Sea to the Swiss frontier parallel line of captive observation balloons, or "sau. sages," marks in the air the rough outline of the entrenched positions of the German and entente troops ex. cept when a storm is blowing in such strength as to make aerial as- cents impossible or extremely haz- ardous.
 The gas-bags, which are attached to steel cables. fly at varying heights according to the degree of visibility and the nature of the country in the vicinity in which they operate. The work their occupants are able to perform in reporting troop movements and concentration on the oppos- ing side is of immense value to the commanding generals and this is the reason they are subject to constant attack. Every observer and mechanic carried in the balloons is provided with a parachute attached to his waist. By this means he has a chance of escaping certain death in case an enemy shell should rip the balloon or set it on fire.
 The correspondent of The Asso- ciated Press has observed many thrilling incidents during attacks on captive balloons at various parts of the front In one case an aerial ob- server, when his balloon burst into flames. threw himself out. relying on his parachute, which did not spread out until he had fall n nearly fifteen hundred feet. Everybody on tho ound believed he vas doom d when Judd nly, when he was within a hundred yards of earth, the parachute open and brought him gcntly down lIe was picked up unconscious.
 In general. however, the parachutes work perfectly and the dart through the air is made in safety without any thing more than tho nome ntary thrill of falling through space for a short
 iod without any support. Some times the wind>blows the falling man hanging on to his parachute toward9 1' ncmy lines, where he is greeted
 th a hail of rifle and machine-gun bullets, but incidents of this kind are rare.
 Details of the organization of the German aerostration or captive bal loon service have just reached the correspondent. From these it is gath cred that the German army possesses hundreds of these observation gas. bags. They are divided into groups of three, which work together under the command of an officer, while at the headquarters of each army a staff officer of high rank is charged with the supervision of the service which is entirely separated from the aviation branch. There is no definite number of balloons attached to each division or army corps, the total used at each part of the line chang ing according to the decrease or in. crease of activity of the troops in line.
 For each captive balloon a com. pany has been formed consisting of four observation officers, eleven non. commissioned officers and about 120 men commanded by a captain or | lieutenant. These men not only have to look after the ascent, descent and housing of the balloon, but also it's defense against airplanes, for which five machine-guns and two pompoms or cannon of 1h inch calibre are em. ployed. The former are provided with corrected sights and Are tracer and explosive bullets, while the latter can attain range of two and a quarter miles.
 Another method of defense Is rapid descent, which is accomplished by means of revolving winces fixed on automobiles or horsed wagons. The steel cables are passed round these winces and the balloon can be brought close to earth and out of immediate danger in very short time. in spite of it's size. which is considera ble. as it contains 800 cubic metres of gas.