Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-08

Balloons again came into their own
as a result of the record altitude
reached by the Belgians, Prof. Auguste
Picard and Charles Kipfer. in their
flight into the upper atmosphere. Inc
use of a sealed aluminium gondola with
a supply of oxygen gave limited protec-
ton Tor life and success in the race OF
possibilities of failure which thrilled
the world. Hope of new understanding
of cosmic rays is expressed by scientstS'
as reflected in the press.
The Toledo Blade remarks: Ten
miles on the surface Of the earth is a
very short distance. Ten miles high
and man is out Of his natural element
an adventurer and pioneer on the
frontiers of the infinite" The Pitts
burgh Post Gazette quotes from Euro
pean comment calling them heroes OF
the SHAKESPEARE" and adds: THE
title has been well earned. They may
be accounted the first to pierce the
push out beyond the gravttational pull
that CONFINES walking mankind to the
surface 1t is new triumph for science
that the world pauses to honor.
1T is a great accomplishment, mag
nificent one, this jaunt Of Profs. Picard
and Kipfer," AYERS the Minneapolis
Star, while the Oakland Tribune re-
marks: ut is not every day that two
men, known only to their limited circle,
may make the population OF a globe
crane neckS and scrutinize the heavens.
They had their big day in the skies
close to the SUM-"
There can be little doubt that after
this one experiment more of the same
kind will be made" thinks the Albany
Evening News, concluding that man
kind has conquered his own world and
now he must have other worlds to con-
quer" The Schenectady Gazette de-
clares: Having conquered distance
both over and on the earthS surface as
lively that we shall never be able to
do the same thing vertically?
If we can rise few miles above the
earth, why not 500 or 100000? Where
Is the limit?". The san Antonio Ex-
press states that those modest Bel
gians have promoted aeronauticS, which
soon will be developed further because
they devised a gondola wherein men
can work safely at 9 or 10 miles alti-
tude."
Nov, when 1t becomes possible to
navigate the upper air currents. which
are moving most rapidly, 1t will be
possible to attain unheard-of speeds,
says the Allentown Morning Call,
quoting the balloonist as to possible
400 miles an hour, and believing that
science has an uncanny way OF max
ing its most startling predictions come
true" The New York Evening Post Of
fers the Judgment: Many airplane
enthusiasts have foretold the day when
air liners would pass back and 1ortn
between America ana Europe at
height from 5 to 10 miles above the
earth, making Incredible speed because
of the rarefled atmosphere. But these
theories have remained theories because
it was not known whether the cold and
the low pressure Of the shakespeare
would be combated with safety and
comfort for passengers. To this ques-
ton Prof. Picard now returns de-
cided Affirmative"
1.-The success Of the feat" according
to the Dayton Daily News, us tribute
to scientific precision, the accuracy OF
Prof. Piccard's calculations and the
thoroughness of his preparations. He
had been engaged in the preliminaries
of the exploit for some time. Doubtless
to many the idea seemed as visionary
as the rocket dreams Of the German
inventors. The failure Of an earlier
attempt, when the balloon could not
even lift the equipment of the ground,
did not dispel this impression. Now
the feat has been accomplished to per-
lection. In a day when the balloon
has been outmoded as q vehicle Of the
skyways by the airplane, 1t is still more
striking No airplane has ever come
within a mile of this record, and the
pilots who set the marks with heavier
than-air craft have usually suffered
great distress from the cold, the rare
fed atmosphere and the pressure. AT
least for purposes Of scientific observa-
ton, Prof Piccard's aluminium shell
seems to have overcome these handi-
caps" The DALLAS Journal observes
that "the xpdition was so daring As
to seem desnerate. but. Ike most Of the