Military Ballooning

Abstract

THE matter of ballooning for military purposes appears to be once more attracting attention in this country. In France they have now a properly organised service under the command of a colonel of the National Engineers, who considers all novelties and proposals as they arise, and who sees, moreover, that the State has always a body of skilled aëronauts at its disposal. At the end of the Paris siege the Postal department, it may be remembered, possessed a large number of balloons, and these being handed over to the French war minister, constituted the matériel necessary in the formation of a military balloon service. Col. Laussedat, whose name as an energetic officer of the French Topographical Department, is well known, was placed in command, and he at once secured the services of one of the Messrs. Goddard to put the whole of the apparatus in a fit condition for service. Since that day ballooning in France has been considered as much a duty of the Engineers of the army as telegraphing and surveying, and classes both for officers and men are held for instruction. Lately, by the resignation of Col. Laussedat, the French balloon service has lost its chief support; but his place has just been supplied by Gen. Farr, who will, no doubt, take measures to maintain the high efficiency which has been attained by his predecessor.