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Show ' The French were probably the first to recognize the value of balloons for war purposes, a special study being given to the subject during the French revolutionary wars. Rec-onnoitering Rec-onnoitering balloons were subsequently subse-quently used in the French campaign cam-paign in Italy in 1859. During the siege of Paris (1870-71), communication communi-cation was effected between the besieged be-sieged and the provinces by means of balloons carrying pigeons which were liberated to bring back news. Military balloons were used in the United States by the Federals during dur-ing the Civil war. |