THE PROGRESS OF WIRELESS.

Grey River Argus, 28 January 1911, Page 8

THE PROGRESS OF WIRELESS.

—-T~ ♦* ..* '"■- --SENDING A TORPEDO FROM THE SHORE. The cables recently announced that a French inventor named Gabet had made a sensatip by improving on .all past methods of steering torpedoes by wireless. The experiments were made at Ch-aionser-^Marne. The projectile, the prppellor and -.udder of which are distinctly visible, i s provided with a remarkable superstructure. It is well known that torpedoes are rather difficult to launch with absolute safety, as their . speed is so very -small for a projectile, while the object of aim is usually in motion. The Gabet torpedo is inten/led to eliminate both drawbacks, by automatically moving under the action of a motor plant, while being steered easily and safely from the shore. — • of from shipboard— -by means of electric :\yaves. The wireless signals given out from the sending apparatus produce in a receiver on the torpedo mechanical effects used in controlling both the speed and direction of the projectile. As the two factors determining the course of the latter can thus be controlled at will, the torpedo is conveyed with unfailing safety towards its aim. , The torpedo carries a much larger explosive charge than in other eypes of torpedo, so its destructive effects are enormous. In its outside aspect it resembles a Whitehead torpedo of very large dimensions, measuring thirty feet over, all and -weighing four tons. A distinctive feature from ordinary types of torpedo is. the float surmounting the projectile in which are carried the apparatus controllingthe latter. Like a miniature submarine, this torpedo secretly makes its way towards the enemy, hunting up his ships and exploding them under the action, of invisible, far-distant hand which at its 'will sends put those wonderful electric waves. Successful tests were recently made on the Dutzendteich, a small; lake in the outsgirts of Nuremberg-, a motor launch being steered by wireless transmission, from sending apparatus installed at the light-house. Orders were transmitted from the wireless sender to the (remote swtich" and thence to the rudder of the motor launch, with lightning speed so tHat the rattling of the sender and the operation, of the electric switch could be perceived simultaneously on approaching with the motor launch the lighthouse where the sending apparatus had been> located. Excellent iresults were obtained in this connection, with a special' contact retarding device intended to paralyse, in due time, any 'erroneous manipulation. Seveal curves and .complete circles to the right and left were described readily by the motor launch. The apparatus differs considerably from that used by Gabet for the steer ing of torpedoes. Whereas Gabet en sures the contact retarding by means of a curved exhausted -glass tube fill ed with a drop of mercury— which -ar rangement in the case of oscillations of the launch, is liable to get out of order — the ship-steering device is pro vided for the same purpose "with a purely electro-mechanical . arrangement warranting-; a perfectly reliable operation of the apparatus.