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Balloons for Army Noted Aeronaut Will Teach Soldiers Use of Airships Lieutenant Lahm Goes to Fort Leavenworth as Instructor. Steps Taken to Develop New and Needed Art of Warfare. All European Nations Using Air Vehicles Extensively Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm, Sixth cavalry, U.S.A., has been detailed instructor of ballooning at Fort Leavenworth and will soon take up his duties in Kansas stronghold, where he will instruct soldiers in the art of using balloons in times of war. Lieutenant Lahm is a distinguished aeronaut, he having won the Bernett cup in the international balloon race less than a year ago. The winning of the cup by a representative of the American club places the responsibility on that club for organizing the race next year, and already plans are being laid. Interest in ballooning has received an impetus which has already carried it to the front, and now the practical side is appearing. It is interesting to note that six of the sixteen balloons in this year's contest carried regular army officers, either as pilots or as assistants. The balloon holds an important place in warfare. Steps which are now being taken to develop ballooning in the army show that Americans are taking the matter seriously and are beginning to appreciate that they are behind other nations along this line. Practically all European armies have their balloon corps. Troops are regularly incorporated for this service, and by constant practice and experimenting they have brought the military balloon to such a point of perfection that its usefulness can not be doubted. History has already demonstrated its value in the past. Thirty-six years ago the besieged city of Paris was able to defy the German besiegers and to maintain in constant communication with the troops outside, thanks to balloons. More than seventy were sent out, carrying dozens of passengers, tons of mail and hundred of carrier pigeons, which were sent back into the city with valuable messages. The big balloon America made an ascension in Washington, D.C., Deb. 23, which was witnessed by numerous prominent soldiers and members of the different diplomatic corps of the capital. Among those present on the occasion were Captain Chandler, U.S.A.; Admiral Chickering, U.S. N.; Sir Chentung Liang Cheng, Chinese ambassador, and J.C. McCoy and August Post of the New York Aero club. This balloon will probably be used in army service. Lieutenant Lahm is an ardent advocate of the use of balloons in the army, and his agitation in this country has done much to arouse an interest in the matter. He has made a close study of the way in which European nations use balloons and he will probably introduce some of those methods to this country, although he has some ideas of his pwn that he will put in force. Lieutenant Lahm's work will be watched closely by army men in all parts of the country and it is quite possible that if he meets with success balloon corps will be added to a great many army posts in the near future. New Art of Warfare. The balloon became a factor in battles when the five-year prohibition to The Hague peace conference expired. The prohibition did not relate to the employment of the balloon in mere reconnaissances, as was effectively done in the Spanish-American and several preceding wars, but to a possible species of offensive tactics which would enable one man or at most a few men to inflict death in a horrible form upon thousands without the latter having more than a remote or very slender chance of defense or retaliation. The one man in a balloon, which could be maneuvered directly over the enemy's head, while he himself, far out of range, could let fall upon the latter bombs of such tremendous explosive power that he alone might decide a mighty conflict in which hundreds of thousands of soldiers were arrayed against one another. In the western American phrase, "getting the drop" on a foe would then have a terribly intensified and terribly literal meaning. This novel instrument has already been used by each belligerent, both armies having used balloons for purposes of observation during the great battle of Liaoyang, which closed in disaster to Russia. The Japanese early in the battle sent up a balloon southeast of Liaoyang and the location of [[?]] defenses by keen-eyed observ-[[?]] battlefield may have [[?]]. Left Side Transcription: New York Mar 1903 Take Balloon Trip Creation which Alfred N. Chandler, Club of Philadelphia, was to Philadelphia has been post-saturday. When the acension will be accompanied by Al Philadelphia club was arranged of a balloon shed, which rescinded ever construction in finished in about a month. New York 16 Mar 1907. BALLOONISTS. __________ Have Won Distinction as Aeronauts. Feature in the present revival of ng is the enthusiasm with which to th nw sport. ever. that for more than a hun- have gone in for ballooning, and sex have won positive distinc- a balloon is "no place" for a not familiar with the really en have played as balloonists. ignore it. have from the beginning been The first balloon that ever d, in 1784, held a woman pas- Sage. And the first woman to voyage across the English Channel. English woman, Mrs. Griffith med this feat more than a hun- e pioneer. Mrs. Sage took her in her hands. nnel one finds that a Mme e displayed such masterly con- as to attract the admiring at- Napoleon. In a fit of anger dismissed the famous expert, noted Mine. Blanchard "direct- in his place an office in which displayed consummate skill and ply the choice of her great mes another French woman oy her courage and the mirac- marked her adventures. She She left Calais one day in noting the wind would carry striking a high altitude she rare current blowing out to being swept over the North was, which caused the balloon on the top of the water and all but consigned herself to fishing smack hove in sight her precarious position. e and all laugh at the arm- if ballooning doesn't make es them when some one sug- should burst?" They won't dangerous. be dangerous," they will tell the early days when ascen- defective equipment and in principles. But when cer- ken, which are applicable to n, ballooning is said to be se, you mustn't go up when ing fast, and you mustn't ie balloon, or you will be an untimely end." am, writing on this subject compares ballooning with
Transcription Notes:
Center article is transcribed, however the left column is not.
Left article is tough to transcribe, not all of the paper is preserved. Ends make it difficult to determine how many words are missing due to "tear"
