The New York herald., 1922-08-27

which they lead the balloons, all strung
along in line up to the front of the
grand stand, they being all so well bal
anced that a few men can guide them
along very easily. AS they are led along
one behind the other they look like
drove cf elephants, except that the bal
looms are spherical in shape. They have
one or the sausage shaped army balloons
Ter captive balloon here on the field.
At IL o'clock no word had been re-
ceived from any of the six balloons
that started on a long distance race
yesterday but they were supposed TO
remain up about "A hours. The light
winds to-day took these balloons off
TO the north at the same speed and In
the same direction as yesterday.
Lieut.. Hoffman succeeded in getting
small balloon and entered in the Hare
and Hounds race all alone. Some of
the largo balloons had four and Ave
persons, some women going along.
There was an aeroplane flying about
after all the balloons started yesterday
and ! thought would like to be in one
and chase them up, but there are no
spare machines around here. Have not
seen any to-day. The films are taking
movies OF the balloons. 1 happened
to be in one of the "closeups," Panama
hat, American flag and all.
Parachute Jump From Balloon.
Well. / had quite a little experience
this afternoon while out watching the
parachute humping from a captive bal
loon. The Swiss army officer who has
charge of all the starting OF the ball
looms in the races also has charge of
these events, and as he can talk Eng
lish pretty well he asked me if l would
like to go up 1000 feet and look al
Geneva from the sausage shaped cap
tive balloon they were using for the
jumping. Perhaps / am unconsciously
taking on an international air voyager's
appearance. This may be the reason he
singled me out in the bunch to receive
such an invitation.
| could not very we'll refuse. SO ac-
cepted and took my turn right after the
first jumper had safely landed. | told
him / was used to seeing ski jumping
but this was my first sight of real
army parachute jumper.
l was piloted up by Lieut. Theo.
Frick, and we were the only passengers
in the basket OF this great army bal
loon. | am not keen on captive balloons.
for il anything should break one is
likely to be Off for long journey with
out any ballast or any control over the
air monster, and they do look like mon
sters of the great elephant class. The
side wings look like elephant ears as
the wind makes them seem to gently fan
the air. They act like the small fins
back of the gills on a fish. Then the
funny protuberance at the head looks
like the curled up trunk of the elephant
and acts like the keel of a ship to. take
the wind easily. Although near the head,
1t acts 3s rudder or the tail of fish.
We ascended very easily and grace
fully. the wire cable being unwound
from windlass on the body of big
auto truck that has an easy running but
powerful motor. When we were up
about 1000 feet told my pilot that was
high enough for me to get a good view
of the city and the running together OF
the two great rivers This last view Is
the one known as the Waters Meet"
Here the Arve with it's muddy waters
joins the Rhone with its clear water.
They make a broad turn around and
partly blend together right under where
we were poised. The pilot blew his
buge three blasts and the motor below
was shut off and we remained station
airy for while. This is the only time
any motion is felt. There is quite a
severe rocking of the basket, but not for
long, and as we quieted down | took
good look about the city and country
from our elongated Eiffel Tower or
Woolworth Building.