BALLOONS IN WARFARE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1485, 27 March 1886, Page 3

BALLOONS IN WARFARE.

Instructive and novel target practice has recently been carried on at the Tegal range, near Berlin—the target being a captive balloon—in the presence of a number of artillery officers, and, as will be been, with nhimate success. The Balloon Detachment sent up a captive balloon to the height of 400 metres, and a field battery of six guns were posted at an estimated distance of 1206 metres. Firing was at once commenced with shrapnel. The first shot fell short, which was recognised by the fact that the smoke of the exploding projectile drew off in fiont of the balloon—that is to say, between the balloon and the battery. The same happened when a second round was fired at a distance of 1300 metres, and a third at 1400 metres. It was only at the fourth round, fired at 1500 metres, that the smoke of the exploding sharpnel was seen behind the balloon. A$ the shrapnel, in order to be effective, must explode in front of the target, a number of rounds were fired in succession at tbp previous distance, 1400 metres, and with success. The balloon began to descend, and it was found afterwards that it had been pierced in several places. The trials bave consequently furnished proof that there is no difficulty in bringing down captive balloons at distances up to 1500 metres

—a result of the greatest importance in future Beige operations, when such balloons will be sent up for reconnoitring purposes. The question of bitting freely moving balloons, however, has still to be faced, as such balloons, constantly varying their distances, offer no facility for estimating the matter.