Airships past and present, together with chapters on the use of balloons in connection with meteorology, photography and the carrier pigeon . ons were built. Two were sent to each of the existing corps,one was despatched to Italy, and the other was kept at Meudonfor purposes of instruction. Trustworthy reports show that the material used for construc-tion was as good as that in use nowadays. A balloon intendedto carry two persons to a height of 1,600 ft. had an envelopeweighing between 180 and 200 lbs. The covering was made tightwith five coats of varnish, and held so well that it was possible
Airships past and present, together with chapters on the use of balloons in connection with meteorology, photography and the carrier pigeon . ons were built. Two were sent to each of the existing corps,one was despatched to Italy, and the other was kept at Meudonfor purposes of instruction. Trustworthy reports show that the material used for construc-tion was as good as that in use nowadays. A balloon intendedto carry two persons to a height of 1,600 ft. had an envelopeweighing between 180 and 200 lbs. The covering was made tightwith five coats of varnish, and held so well that it was possibleto use the same balloon for ascents, even after it had been filled DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY BALLOONING. 135 for two months. The men were trained to the work of holdingthe balloon and pulling it in, and the school soon had a sub-director, a storekeeper, a clerk, and 60 men in training. Thelatter were divided into three divisions, each of which consistedof twenty men. One division was sufficient for holding a balloon ;each man had his own special rope to hold, which was fastenedto the main rope, the same method being still employed at the. Fig. 86.—A balloon about to land. present day. As the balloon was pulled down, the rope waswound round a drum. Conte also paid attention to improvement of the signallingarrangements. He introduced a system by which cylinders,made of black calico, stretched over rings, could be used toconvey information. This was done by hanging the cylindersat a greater or smaller distance from the car, but this methodwas not very serviceable, as the wind was apt to scatter thecylinders in all directions with many entanglements. The gasgenerator was also improved, as the result of experience. 136 AIRSHIPS PAST AND PEESENT. The Balloon Corps was quite independent of the received the title of Commandant, and in virtue ofhis office commanded both companies. Each company had acaptain, two lieutenants, one lieutenant acting as quartermaster,one serg
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