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Show TAFT VISITS U. S. BALM SCHOOL EX-PRESIDENT IMPRESSED WITH FORT OMAHA COLLEGE. EYES OF MULLEIN l!l ACTION Eight Hundred Pupils Are Undergoing Training for Places in Uncle Sam's Army of the Air. Field Open for More Applicants. Sterling Qualifications Quali-fications Essential. Omaha, Oct. 2il. F.x-l'rcsident Taft inspected the big balloon school at Fort Omaha last week, saw the huge sausage shaped forms carry the observers ob-servers 4,000 feet in the air, from where they signalled the activities of the occupants of trenches live or six miles away to' the dummy artillery, and at the conclusion of his tour expressed ex-pressed bis opinion of the work of this new branch of the service that has come to be known as "the eyes of the artillery," as "wonderful." At Fort Omaha there are being trained nt. present nearly S00 keen young Americans who will in tbe near future, from their lofty perches in tha clouds in France and Belgium, direct the fire of tbe American artillery that Is to pave tbe way for the drive to Berlin. As the men at present in training at Fort Omaha leave for active service, their places are being taken by men from all over the country, and as the quarters are being constantly enlarged,, en-larged,, there is still room for a considerable con-siderable number of men having tho proper qualifications. In answer to many inquiries, the commanding officer of the United States Army Balloon School, at Fort Omaha, says that the qualifications of men applying for the commission of 1st Lieutenant as Observation Balloon Pilots are as follows: Tbe Balloon Service calls for a high class of work and applicants for commissions com-missions in the line must possess sterling qualifications. First fhey must be citizens of United Stales and not tinder 19 years of age and not over 35. The must lie energetic and forceful, and of good moral character and clean habits. After passing the examinations' required re-quired the applicant Is enlisted as a first class private In the aviation section sec-tion of Ihe Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps. He Is then assigned to a school for training, and the lime of training depends de-pends upon the man's ability. Afler qualifying as an observation balloon pilot he Is commissioned as n first lieutenant. Aviation Section Signal Officers Reserve Corps. From the time of his entrance Into the school until he Is commissioned he receives $100 per month, quarters and food allowance. As a first lieutenant lieuten-ant S2.000 a year. Application blanks can be secured by addressing the President Avlafion Examining Board at Fort Omaha, Neb. |
