Year: 1871

III fhAALOO-NA-NR oh'A III


This Is an age of novelties not perhaps
of ideas, for originality in that respect Is
so questioned ana retuted nowadays that
we begin 10 be believers IN the somewhat
caustic observation Of the Hebrew king,


that there Is nothing new under the sun.


But the practical application of resuscita-
ted principles, says the London Examiner,
is carried out 30 largely, that we begin TO
wonder sometimes whether human ingenU-
Ity will ever find an insurmountable bound
AIRY and a limit 1t cannot pass. The wars
OF the last ten years have given a wonder
ful stimulus to inventive genius for i'm
proving old and designing fresh instruments
OF destruction. and society is indebted to
the present sauguinary contest Tor one or
two novel aidS to wholesale slaughter


When this unhappy war shall have ended,


Europe viii be flooded with books about il,
historical, political, and technical and We
shall be greatly disappointed if we do not
see some record Of the doings OF the intre-
pid aeronauts who have rendered suchsignal
service in France by preserving a means
Of communication between the invested
capital and the provinces. Their opera
lions have been doubtless irregular, awk-
ward, and not always successful but their
art i in its infancy and crude as may
have been their efforts they have had a
valuable and beneficial influence on the
defence. Blame aS we may the vanity and
rashncSS which led TO the war, the menda-
city and recklessness which have character
lied it on the part OF the French, it is
impossible not to admire the indomitable
perseverance and courage they have dis
played under crushing reverses. The
balloon post Is one novelty ca lied into ex-
iStencc by this war, and there Is little
doubt that the important service it has
rendered. and the comparative success it
has attained, viii stimulate the promoters
OF aerial navigation 10 overcome the diff
culties still attending 1t, till in the course
OF another decade it may be a perfected
and recognised means of transit. There Is
an Aeronautical Society In this country.
and they have had TO submit 10 a great
deal of good humored badinage from the
public on account of their somewhat &C.
centric doings; but they may take comfort
that the siege Of Paris has demonstrated
the utility of their objects, and we hope
they may derive some useful hints from the
experiments there made. What Is to be
the true status OF ballooning in future
warfare cannot bc decided in the present
elementary state OF the art The Germans.
with questionable austerity, have treated
the occupants of one or two captured ball
looms as guilty Of breach Of military law,
aud have sent them before court-martial
on what charge aud with what result We
have not heard. This Is carrying matters
with . very high hand Inasmuch as
balloons may convey information between
different points of an invaded country of
material use to the defenders and dctri-
mental to the invaders. balloon may
fairly be captured, its contents seized, aud
its occupants treated as prisoners of war,
Just the same as vessel attempting to run
blockade but beyond this the spirit Of
reprisal should rot extend. The good
sense of civilized governments has already
decided against the use in warfare of ex-
plosive bullets, and probably some agree !
ment may be come to in the future which, .
while preserving the Just rights Of bellig-
erents, may prevent the pnre air of heaven
from being made the scene of bloodshed
Earth and sea are already concentrated to
deeds of violence and death-surely the
air may by mutual consent,be neutralized
As we have said, aerostation is yet in its
infancy, but it Is both possible and probable
that diplomacy in future years may have
to settle delicate questions of right and
rule, belligerent and peaceful, in the pos
session of the heaven above. as they have
of the earth beneath and the waters that
surround it.