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base； to be towed or carried forward by a squad of men while
floating in the air； perhaps at a height of 10 feet。 A dozen men
will suffice for this duty as a rule； and in calm weather little
difficulty is encountered in moving from point to point。 This
method possesses many advantages。 The balloon can be inflated
with greater ease at the base； where it is immune from
interference by hostile fire。 Moreover； the facilities for
obtaining the requisite inflating agenthydrogen or coal gas
are more convenient at such a point。 If the base be far removed
from the spot at which it is desired to operate the balloon； the
latter is inflated at a convenient point nearer the requisite
position； advantage being taken of the protective covering
offered by a copse or other natural obstacle。
As is well known； balloons played an important part during the
siege of Paris in 1870…1； not only in connection with daring
attempts to communicate with the outer world； but in
reconnoitring the German positions around the beleaguered city。
But this was not the first military application of the aerial
vessel； it was used by the French against the Austrians in the
battle of Fleurus； and also during the American Civil War。 These
operations； however； were of a sporadic character； they were not
part and parcel of an organised military section。
It is not generally known that the British War office virtually
pioneered the military use of balloons； and subsequently the
methods perfected in Britain became recognised as a kind of
〃standard〃 and were adopted generally by the Powers with such
modifications as local exigencies seemed to demand。
The British military balloon department was inaugurated at
Chatham under Captain Templer in 1879。 It was devoted
essentially to the employ ment of captive balloons in war； and in
1880 a company of the Royal Engineers was detailed to the care of
this work in the field。 Six years previously the French military
department had adopted the captive balloon under Colonel
Laussedat； who was assisted among others by the well…known
Captain Renard。 Germany was somewhat later in the field； the
military value of captive balloons was not appreciated and taken
into serious consideration here until 1884。 But although British
efforts were preceded by the French the latter did not develop
the idea upon accepted military lines。
The British authorities were confronted with many searching
problems。 One of the earliest and greatest difficulties
encountered was in connection with the gas for inflation。 Coal
gas was not always readily available； so that hydrogen had to be
depended upon for the most part。 But then another difficulty
arose。 This was the manufacture of the requisite gas。 Various
methods were tested； such as the electrolytic decomposition of
water； the decomposition of sulphuric acid by means of iron； the
reaction between slaked lime and zinc； and so forth。
But the drawbacks to every process； especially upon the field of
battle； when operations have to be conducted under extreme
difficulties and at high pressure； were speedily recognised。
While other nations concentrated their energies upon the
simplification of hydrogen…manufacturing apparatus for use upon
the battle…field； Great Britain abandoned all such processes in
toto。 Our military organisation preferred to carry out the
production of the necessary gas at a convenient manufacturing
centre and to transport it； stored in steel cylinders under
pressure； to the actual scene of operations。 The method proved a
great success； and in this way it was found possible to inflate a
military balloon in the short space of 20 minutes； whereas； under
the conditions of making gas upon the spot； a period of four
hours or more was necessary； owing to the fact that the
manufacturing process is relatively slow and intricate。 The
practicability of the British idea and its perfection served to
establish the captive balloon as a military unit。
The British military ballooning department has always ranked as
the foremost of its type among the Powers； although its work has
been carried out so unostentatiously that the outside world has
gleaned very little information concerning its operations。
Captain Templer was an indefatigable worker and he brought the
ballooning section to a high degree of efficiency from the
military point of view。
But the British Government was peculiarly favoured； if such a
term may be used。 Our little wars in various parts of the world
contributed valuable information and experience which was fully
turned to account。 Captive balloons for reconnoitring purposes
were used by the British army for the first time at Suakim in
1885； and the section established its value very convincingly。
The French military balloon department gained its first
experience in this field in the previous year； a balloon
detachment having been dispatched to Tonkin in 1884。 In both the
Tonkin and Soudan campaigns； invaluable work was accomplished by
the balloon sections； with the result that this aerial vehicle
has come to be regarded as an indispensable military adjunct。
Indeed the activity of the German military ballooning section was
directly attributable to the Anglo…French achievements therewith。
In this work； however； the British force speedily displayed its
superiority and initiative。 The use of compressed hydrogen was
adopted； and within the course of a few years the other Powers；
realising the advantages which the British department had thus
obtained； decided to follow its example。 The gas is stored in
cylinders under a pressure varying from six to ten or more
atmospheres； in other words from about 80 to 140 or more pounds
per square inch。 Special military wagons have been designed for
the transport of these cylinders； and they are attached to the
balloon train。
The balloon itself is light； and made of such materials as to
reduce the weight thereof to the minimum。 The British balloons
are probably the smallest used by any of the Powers； but at the
same time they are the most expensive。 They are made of
goldbeater's skin； and range in capacity from 7；000 to 10；000
cubic feet； the majority being of the former capacity。 The
French balloon on the other hand has a capacity exceeding 18；000
cubic feet； although a smaller vessel of 9；000 cubic feet
capacity； known as an auxiliary； and carrying a single observer；
is used。
The Germans； on the other hand； with their Teutonic love of the
immense； favour far larger vessels。 At the same time the
military balloon section of the German Army eclipses that of any
other nations is attached to the Intelligence Department； and is
under the direct control of the General Staff。 Balloon stations
are dotted all over thecountry； including Heligoland and Kiel；
while regular sections are attached to the Navy for operating
captive balloons from warships。 Although the Zeppel