Evening star., 1922-05-31
BALLOONS ALL SET
FOR ANNUAL FLIGHT
Thirteen Huge Machines
Straining at Leash, Ready
for International Race.
,x the Aanociated Prsss

By the Associated Press.
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, May 31.-Thir-
teen balloons today tugged at their
moorings ready to get away at $3.50
o'clock this afternoon In the thir-
teenth national balloon race which
will decide the three entries OF the
United States in the international
contests to be held in Switzerland IN
August.
While the course Of flight of the
pilots will be dependent entirely upon
the whims and fancies Of winds thou
sands Of feet above the ground. indi-
cations early today were, SO far as
the man on terra frma could judge,
the air travellers would be southeast
ern Canada.
AS the thousands Of cubic feet OF
gas and helium struggled to loose the
giant bags from the ground ropes. the
United States weather bureau. whlcn
to prognosticate the conditions OF
the upper air. reported that the bal
looms would encounter q wind from
the northeast at the start. but tnHt
this would change to a wind from the
southwest as greater attitudes were
reached. Such winds would mean that
the big gas-filled bags soon wouid
take a steady flight northeastwara
across the great lakes and into
Canada.
Baskets of Floatable Type.
Several Of the baskets attached TO
the balloons are OF waterproof
fioatable type, arranged by the pss pno.s
landing In one Of the great lakes. but
others are just the ordinary woven
type, which would fill with water as
readily as a sieve. A few Of the men
who are daring the perils OF air cur
rents thousands OF feet ABOVE the
in case they come down in the wilds
Of Canada, but a majority are sac
rifcing such articles Of personS
safety for such equipment as might
help lengthen the fight.
The balloons attracting prooaoiy
the greatest attention were the naval
lentries, which are flying Independent
| ly and are not eligible to any OF the
prize money or honors OF victory
These two bags were inflated with
helium gas. the first free balloon to
navigate the air through the lifting
power of this non-inflammable sub
stance, which government offcials
claim will revolutionize the flight OF
lighter than air craft
The helium was brought here IN
scores of small tanks much on the
order of the oxygen tank used by
HeIium Lifting Power Best.
The pilots of these ships of the air
were disqualified from prize honors
because Of the advantage they have
through the greater lifting ability
Of heiium over coal gas Another in
teresting feature of the helium-filled
balloons will be a newly invented
radio equipment which will be given
a thorough test The government
lhas maintained war time secrecy over
this invention. but it is said to be
miraculous. -,
| Fighting with civilian entries will
be three Army balloons which were
6ut in final shape last night by scores
Of men sent here for that purpose.
| Whether the public would be per-
mitted to view the start was unde-
cided today. The gas company yes
terday refused to furnish gas II spec
tators were admitted to the stands,
the decision being made when at
| torneys decided that the company
| would be legally responsible II there
| were an explosion resulting in casual.
ties. There were reports today that
the Aero Club Of Wisconsin. which
stands to lose about $4,000 II there
are not spectators. would admit the
| public after PM. when the gas
| company's mains are turned on. bu
| these were unverified.
Balloons in Order of Flying.
The first balloon to take the al,