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for this branch of the subject is foreign to my present purpose, I think Prof. Newcomb is nearer right than the others, but still too pessimistic. Commercial aerial navigation, with any craft or devices now known to us, or any probable development of them, I believe to be wholly out of the question. And having built, launched and navigated the second largest aerial craft yet constructed, I think I may modestly lay claim to knowing enough of the problem to warrant this expression of opinion. But I do believe the developed and adapted motor-balloon, and possibly also the mechanical flight machine, may be found highly useful in war for scouting and even for attack under certain conditions, though such military arm must always be regarded as an extra-hazardous branch of the service, like marine torpedo boats, and submarines.

Prof. Newcomb expresses the belief that the one value of the airship discernible in a

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[[caption]] VIEW OF OUR CAMP IN THE EARLY SUMMER-- THE AIRSHIP HOUSE, MACHINE SHOPS, ENGINE HOUSE, GAS APPARATUS, ETC., IN THE DISTANCE. IN THE FOREGROUND, MARKED WITH A FLAG, THE SPOT FROM WHICH ANDREE STARTED IN HIS BRAVE BUT RECKLESS EFFORT TO REACH THE POLE WITH AN ORDINARY BALLOON, WITHOUT ENGINE OR RUDDER. [[/caption]]

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