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Show TO SEND BALLOON WITH EXPLOSIVES War Department Orders an Air Craft Weighing 1700 Pounds and to Cost $12,-000; $12,-000; Station at Omaha. NEW YORK, Feb. 27v Announcement Announce-ment was made today that the United States Government which has recently shown much interest in aerial navigation, naviga-tion, has given an order to a local aeronaut for a hnge balloon, which will cost in the neighborhood of $12,000. The balloon is to be labeled No. 10, as the War department already has nine other balloons. It will weigh 1700 pounds and have a lifting capacity of a ton. Such an unusual lifting capacity is said to have been required because of the War department's intention to experiment with bombs and heavy explosives. ex-plosives. . With the announcement came the news that an aerial station had been established at Fort Omaha, Neb. Several Sev-eral balloons will be shipped there shortly and orders for more will follow. A hydogren gas supply tank has already been constructed and as soon as the big bags arrive at their destination experiments experi-ments will be started under the direction direc-tion of Gen. James P. Allen, commander-in-chief of the signal eorps of the army. He has been elevated to supervise super-vise the new department of the war service. |