Evening Star Newspaper, April 2, 1937, Page 9

BALLOON DEFENSE INWAR NOT NEW London “Fence” Idea Has Interesting History, Geographic Says. Balloons tethered in the air more than 30,000 feet above London, and trailing wires to form aerial “fences” which will partially inclose the city— such will be the fantastic picture if Great Britain carries out one of her proposed plans for defense against invading airplanes. To fly high enough 0 surmount these barriers, reaching almost into the stratosphere, planes would have to carry oxygen spparatus and but few bombs. “In planning to protect London by & group of balloons, British military suthorities are not entering a wholly new fleld,” says a bulletin from head- quarters of the Natfonal Geographic Soclety. “Toward the close of the World War, air raids on London were made less effective by balloon aprons. Sausage-shaped kite balloons, pro- tected by airplanes, were suspended 800 feet apart, at about 10,000 feet above the city and were anchored to the ground by long cables. From | horizontal cables, linking each trio of balloons, hung long weighted stream- ers of piano wire, forming aprons of | vertical strands, somewhat like those which herald a railroad’s approach to a tunnel. The wires, strong enough to damage wooden propellers or wings of attacking planes, forced flyers to elimb above them, or to descend per- {lously low to pass beneath them. Per- haps their greatest value was the psy- chological effect they had on pilots. Observers Spotted Submarines. “Great Britain also found kite bal- Joons an aid to her navy. Observers in a balloon, towed along several thou- sand feet above a destroyer, could spot a periscope or the wake of a subma- rine long before it was visible from the bridge. Through a telephone wire in the cable connecting balloon to| ship, the balloonist could direct the | ship's attack on the underwater men- | ace. “Some balloons, floating like toy | ones above battleships, were effective | deterrents of submarine attack, though innocuous in themselves. Small dum- mies, carrying crews of dummy men, they created the illusion of large ob- servation balloons flying at a great height. “Hundreds of captive balloons were | used for observation purposes on both sides all along the Western front. Since their contents were highly inflamma- ble, airplanes attacked them with sky | rockets instead of bullets. Propaganda Loosed From Lalloons. “Unmanned, top-shaped balloons about 8 feet high, and made of paper, were sent up by the British. These released over German lines, and to a distance of 50 miles behind them, bundles of propaganda leaflets printed | in German, meant to undermine | enemy morale, | “Balloons were first put to & mili- tary use in France. At the battle of Fleurus in Belgium on June 26, 1794, | Capt. J. M. Coutelle, the world's first military balloon observer, floated in his balloon, L'Entreprenant (The Ven- turesome), above the cannon flashes and clouds of smoke of the opposing Prench and Austrian armies. By sig- paling with flags to the French artil- lery, Coutelle demoralized the Aus- trians, and was an important factor in the French victory. “During the siege of Paris in 1870- 1871, balloons played a strategic part. Cut off from supplies by Germans gur- were reduced to eating rats and zoo animals. Their only means of con- tact with the outside world was by balloon. Dozens of them, like great striped gourds, were hastily made in railway stations. Between September, 1870, and the following January, about 68 rose from Paris, soared safely over the circle of German gunfire, and enabled 164 Parisians to escape. One of their most famous passengers was the French statesman, Gambetta, who took the French government with him to Tours, where he set up his head- quarters and organized fresh troops which offered the Germans flerce but vain resistance. Other passengers were pigeons which afterwards brought back news to the besieged city. Balloons in Civil War. “About a decade earlier, balloons had proved effective in the American Civil War. Union forces had several in which observers hovered over the countryside, looking down with all- seeing eyes on Confederate forts and camp fires. News of Confederate evac- ‘uations, bridge-building operations, or other supposedly secret military ma- neuvers were immediately telegraphed to Union headquarters over a wire to the ground. This was the first time that war dispatches had been tele- graphed from the air. “Realizing the advantage of an ob- servation balloon, but too poor to buy one, the Confederate Army collected the silk dresses of Richmond women and out of them made a patchwork | balloon, like Joseph's coat, of many | colors, striped, plaid, and flower-i sprigged. Southern belles made their sacrifices in vain, for their ball gowns, sewed together and oiled and var- nished, made only one ascent before the balloon was captured by the Fed- erals. A scrap of this balloon, brown and shredded with age, is preserved in the aeronautical exhibit of the Smith- sonian Museum.” P Palestine Business Better. Business men of Palestine declare that conditions have improved greatly since the end of the strike in Oc- tober. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1937. DE MOLAY COUNCIL WEIGHS PROBLEMS Delegates Representing 32 States and District Attend Con- ference Here. Administrative problems of the Or- der of De Molay were considered yesterday by the Grand Council at the first meeting of a two-day gath- ering at the Mayflower Hotel. Dele= gates representing 32 States and the District of Columbia were present. Communism and other. subjects are to be discussed today. A pro- gram of events and awards of honor also are to be considered. Maj. Gen Amos A. Fries represent- Repair, Remodel Buy what you need in the way of Fine Quality Lumber before prices advance. And for “Sud- den Service” always call KELLY. No order too large or too small. Lumber cut to re- quired sizes at no extra cost. Always Free Delivery J. FRANK ELLY INC. Lumber and Millwork 2121 Ga. Ave. NOrth 1341 ng...you get honest values That’s what Henri® says, and Henri knows. For example, take our Twiee Dipped Choc- olates. Delicious, delightful, delovely. The extra coating makes them twice 39¢ as good. 1-b. **Little Ones’* Miniature Assorted Chocolates packed in a beautifully colored gift package. 1.5, 8300 Chocolate Covered Peppermint Patties - 24¢@ Chocolate Covered Butter Caramels Assorted Jelly Strings Delicious Homemade Fudge Miniature Pecan Mallows Jars of Hard Candy— 12 Different Assortments b, 290 r 15¢ * 19e 9¢ 8 oz. “ 19e to 23¢ Fountain Special — Butter Pecan Iee Cream Puff. Delicious Butter Pecan Ice Cream, smothered with Hot Fudge Sauce, topped off with whipped cream and nuts: 15¢ 1103 H St. N.E,, 3115 M St. N.W., 800 7th St. N.W., 3102 14th St. N:W. *Henrl is the Loft Candy Man—S8ees rounding the city, starving Parisians Telephone THE GOLD All—Knows All—WATCH FOR HIM. CLOCK ...and he didl Back in 1888 telephones were a rare luxury. Washington was a typical small town. The grocer was called “Jos” . . . the drug- gist “Doc.” Everyone seemed to know every- one and the proprietor of every store had a personal handshake and name for every cus- tomer. Many a time Charles Schwartz would personally deliver the awaited ring to ‘an anxious bridegroom. This was not unusual. It was expected. But today many businesses have overlooked the importance of personal service in their growth and modemn methods. Here at Chas. Schwartz & Son the years have added to our importance and size, but the friendly, personal service, on which this busi- ness was founded is still our most important asset, and your assurance of satisfaction and pleasant dealings. Combination Ring Set in 14-kt. d, set with Exclusive new desi ‘white or v;slln' [ certified “Perfect” Diamonds. Pay 50c Weekly T2 & SON Since 188 . . Hom: ‘,o Pertect Diamonds 708 Seventh St. N. W. Py 69.75 Both Rings & ) g OELY T S 3rd MEtro. 0060 ed the District, wnile Maj. ‘Gen. M. W. Ireland, former surgeon general of the Army, was delegate at large. Ernest A. Reed, supervisor of Essex County, N. J., presided at the meet- ing in the absence of the grand mas- ter, former Gov. Louis A. Watres of Pennsylvania, who is prevented from attending the sessions because of ill health, it was said. The Order of De Molay was organ- ized in Kansas City, Mo, in 1919, with only nine boys. Its membership now numbers more than 1,000,000 youths throughout the world. 4-Pc. Modern Burl Walnut Bed *1 Four beautiful pleces at a special sale price. A suite with beauty and The suite features the new square offset mir- Made of burl walnut in a waterfalls design. character inside and out. rors. BIDS OPENED ON SHIP TO REPLACE LEVIATHAN Newport News Company Low on Contract for U. 8. Lines Cabin Vessel. BY the Associated Press. ‘The Newport News Shipbiulding & Dry Dock Co. of Newport News yester- day submitted the low bids for con- struction of a proposed cabin liner for the United States Lines Co. of New York. The new vessel would re- 59 and consisting of a panel bed, chest on chest, dresser and vanity. Open a “J. L.” Budget Account AR 2-Pc. Channel Back Living Room Suite in Genuine Kinkimo Another example of the extraordinary values in our April Sale. Here is one of our most popular modern creations—tailored W ith custom precision. room splendidly “proportioned teed spring construction roll backs and deep rounded seats. colors. kA PR All good size pieces 158 Mind you—guaran- throughout with high A cholce of Use the “J. L.” Budget Plan! place the Leviathan, which has been decommiasioned. Bidding on slternate designs, the company offered to build the larger vessel, known as “K design,” for $15,~ 455,000, and the smaller vessel for $14,375,000. . The New York Shipbuilding Corp. of Camden, N. J, the only other com- pany to bid, offered to build the smaller ship for $14,995,000. but did not bid on the larger type. o Northern Ireland recently took a census of the entire country in one day. O COX STAND ON COURT UNCHANGED BY RIVALRY Georgia Representative Refuses to Withdraw Attack on President’s Plan. Representative Cox, Democrat, of Georgia, threatened with opposition in the 1938 primary, refused today to withdraw his attack on President Roosevelt's court reorganization plan. Judge Ira Carlisle of Cairo, Ga., an- nounced he would oppose Cox for the A—9 nomination unless the Representative changed his position on the court bill, Answering, Cox said: “Mr. Carlisle 1s & good man and my friend, but he is not the keeper of my conscience and will not be permitted to do my think- ing or my voting.” Enrell for Spring Classes Now Forming tn SPANISH Famous Conversational Berlitz Method THE BERLITZ SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES 1115 Co A ional . Ave. NAti Weeks “Travelers’ Co FURNITURE CO. Where Most Smart Room FURNIT URE 909 F STREET N.w. People Shop! ‘This is an invitation to all of our old friends and customers, as well as every individual in the com- munity to our “Open House 1937 Spring Style Show.” Do come in and spend as much time as you like quietly browsing about and actually seeing what's new in quality furniture for the home. 7-Pe. Burl Walnut Dinette Suite $95 Just the suite for the small dining room or apartment. Consists of an extension table, combination server and china cabinet, buffet and 4 chairs to match. Rich burl walnut veneers. Use the “J. L”” Budget Plan. OPEN A “J. L. BUDGET. PLAN MODERNE LOUNGE CHAIR $24.50 Covered in attractive frieze. Mod- erne design with sagless spring foun- dation. Re- versible seat cushion. SJelrvs Lanshingh, COMPANY