Balloons That Scatter Death.

Otago Witness, Issue 2372, 17 August 1899, Page 62

Balloons That Scatter Death.

"I have no -doubt," said an aeronaut whose opinion was asked, " that balloons will play an important part in the next war. " Already we have the " aerial torpedo,' a small balloon which carries a charge of 301b of dynamite or other high explosive. An electrical instrument carried in the neck of the balloon will produce a spark at the desired moment, and thus set fire to the gas in the balloon, caiising the explosive charge to fall into the fortress or camp over which it is floating. " Of course a much more formidable contrivance is the balloon, or air-ship, built to carry both men and explosives, for in this case the dropping of dynamite and other deadly compounds is likely to be more effective. " Defence against these balloons will be difficult. It is far from easy to bring them down even with Maxim grns. and even if hit, the gas bag will withstand a iew punctures. In short, the only practical defence against war balloons will be rival balloons.' And then we shall realise Tennyson's words about ' airy navies grappling in the central blue.' A fight between hostile fleets of balloons will, indeed, be a terrific .spectacle. As for the combatants beneath, their position will be anything but comfortable, for not even fortresses will protect them from the explosives that may be dropped upon them from overhead."