directly attributable to the Anglo-French achievements therewith.

In this work, however, the British force speedily displayed its
superiority and initiative. The use of compressed hydrogen was
adopted, and within the course of a few years the other Powers,
realising the advantages which the British department had thus
obtained, decided to follow its example. The gas is stored in
cylinders under a pressure varying from six to ten or more
atmospheres; in other words from about 80 to 140 or more pounds
per square inch. Special military wagons have been designed for
the transport of these cylinders, and they are attached to the
balloon train.

The balloon itself is light, and made of such materials as to
reduce the weight thereof to the minimum. The British balloons
are probably the smallest used by any of the Powers, but at the
same time they are the most expensive. They are made of
goldbeater's skin, and range in capacity from 7,000 to 10,000
cubic feet, the majority being of the former capacity. The
French balloon on the other hand has a capacity exceeding 18,000
cubic feet, although a smaller vessel of 9,000 cubic feet
capacity, known as an auxiliary, and carrying a single observer,
is used.

The Germans, on the other hand, with their Teutonic love of the
immense, favour far larger vessels. At the same time the
military balloon section of the German Army eclipses that of any
other nations is attached to the Intelligence Department, and is
under the direct control of the General Staff. Balloon stations
are dotted all over thecountry, including Heligoland and Kiel,