THE WAR BALLOON.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 13

THE WAR BALLOON.

EXPERT'S OPINION. Colonel Gsdke, one of the greatest authorities on navigable airships, gives some interesting information in one of the latest English papers as to the part that these craft arc likely to piny in future warfare. He says that "a new vehicle h.is been discovered, and the possibility of its employment is proved ; but much will have to b<j dona before it passes through the period of infantile ailments, A few successful experiments, he states, are no criterion that a balloon, even, if it answers the rudder accurately, ian be used as a weapon of warfare. For a lon™ time to romp the military balloon wi'l havo a danjjerou? adverrafy iivtljo Rims lioth of an army and navy. Even :it a h'ijrht of two miles above the surfaces of tho earth or sea, it could be reached by projectiles, the. rooro so as hf dimensions are already considerable -nrl must be still greater' i f it »s io beI c<wne an important •vrcapop. Moreover, the. difficulties of ascent a-ncS lan'dinr; are .(treat, nnd a uaTloon cah Tt\n»ain ir the air only as long at the store of benzine holds out. "No ono ran prophesy what rovolu- ! turns in tho conduct ni w»rs may be ve~ ' cessiiatfd by the new machine, but for the present ii will find restricted employment for reconnoitring purposes and the conveyance of intelligence. The idea that it will bo employed to transport troops on a large scale." like railways, is Utopian, and will certainly not be* realised during the lifctimo of the present generation." ' Colonel Gadkc considers, however, that, as tho navigable bnlloon is destined to render great service, both in land and naval wars, no effort should be spared in improving its construction, and rendering' it a serviceable weapon. Ho does not believo that it \V-i> soon cause a change to bo mado in the re- [ strength of the naval forces of, tho ' various maritime Powers, or .that, • "to J ■uso an example, it could in any way es- ■ 'scntially diminish, tho insular character I of England."