§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in view of the fact that leading Continental Powers have adopted balloons as a regular part of their military organization, and on a considerable scale, it is proposed to adopt a similar system in our own Army, and to continue experiments in military ballooning; and, whether any and what funds have been included for this purpose in this year's Estimates.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Balloons have been used in war by several foreign nations, and by ourselves in the Soudan and in South Africa. The War Office is making experiments in military ballooning, and has recently constructed balloons which it believes to be superior for military purposes to those of any other nation. We propose to include the sum of £2,000 in next year's Estimates for this Service.