NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15824, 22 January 1915, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

EXISTENCE AFTER DEATH. N Sir Oliver Lodge made some remarkable statements in a lecture on " Religion and Science," 'which he delivered before a crowded audience in the Browning Hall, Walworth. " We ourselves are not limited to the '• few years 'that we live on this earth."-said Sir Oliver. "We shall go on after it. We shall certainly continue to exist. We shall certainly survive. Why do I say this? I say it on definite scientific ground. I say it because I know that certain friends of mine still exist, because I have talked to them. Communication is possible. One must obey the laws. One must find out the traditions. I don't say it is easy. It is possible, and I have conversed with them as I could converse with anyone in this audience now, and being scientific men they have given proofs that it was really they, not some personation, not something emanating from myself. They have given definite proofs. Some of those proofs are being published; many more will have to be withheld for a time, but will ultimately be published. But the fact is so. I tell you with all the strength of conviction which I can muster that the fact is so, that we do persist, that these people still take an interest in what is going on, that they still help us, and know far more about things than, we do, and that they are able from time to time to communicate. I know this is a tremendous statement, a tremendous conclusion.' I don't think any of us —I don't flunk I myself realise how great" a conclusion it is. It is not for everybody to investigate everything, but if persons give 30 or 40 years of their live 3 in this investigation, they are entitled to state results which they have arrivea at. You must have evidence, of course. The evidence such as we have got is recorded in the volumes of a scientific society. aDd there will be much more evidence. The evidence is not a matter for casual conversation. It is a matter for serious study, and the conclusions that may bo arrived at may be delayed. You may take some years to agree with those conclusions. Quite so. There is no hurry. But those students who have given most attention to it have gradually, and in the process of' many years, come to agree that the proof has now become crucial, and I have no doubt whatever about it, though for many years, even since the eighties, I have tried all sorts of other methods of explaining these things until gradually they have been eliminated. The conclusion is that the survival of existence is scientifically proved by careful scientific investigation, and that of itself leads us to a perception of the unity running through all state? of existence. That is why I say that man is not alone, and that I know he is surrounded by other intelligences. And if you once step over the boundary there is no limit to the hicher intelligences until you come to the Infinite Intelligence itself. There is no stopping. You must go on until you come to God." VALUE OF GUNNERY. Considerable interest was aroused the other day when it was made known that Sir Percy Scott had been called back for service in the navy. Sir Percy, the man 'who is largely responsible for the splendid gunnery of our sailors, entered the : navy nearly 50 years ago, in the days of the old wooden ships. He joined when he was only 13, and has since served in many .campaigns and won distinction in them all. In his young days, Sir Percy used to spend all his money on polishes and various other things in order to make his ship look pretty. But when his cleanliness won him promotion, and he was appointed captain to His Majesty's ship Scylla, he left what he called the " spit and polish" idea and turned his attention to more serious things. He brought his men up to an astounding pitch in gunnery, and made a reputation for himself. The splendid shooting of all the ships that Sir Percy commanded caused him to be looked upon as a gunnery expert,, and he has since been recognised as the greatest authority on gunnery of modern times. He has invented many appliances that have helped to revolutionise naval gunnery, and the famous " dotter drill" is one of his ideas. One of his little inventions was evolved in what must be almost a record with regard to time, and a rather good story is told of it. While Ladysmith was being besieged by the Boers, Sir Percy was captain of H.M.S. Terrible, then" lying in Simons Bay. A telegram came from General White asking for guns, and Admiral Harris asked Sir Percy what he was going to do, as they had no guncarriages that would take the big naval weapons. " Give me the night to think over it," answered he. During the night he invented a gun-carriage on which the big naval 4.7 in guns could be mounted, and within 24 hours of receiving General White's message several of the new carriages had been made and were well en the way to Ladysmith. THE GERMAN MILITARY TELEPHONE SYSTEM. Among the apparatus which the German Army has specially studied we may note the various appliances of telephony for communication between patrols and the main body, between troops in charge of the railway service, and between the signal corps of the army. The properties of telephony which make it of great importance for military use are its simplic. ity and the high speed of communication it affords. The growing number of soldiers engaged in battles and the wide dispersion of the various corps on areas more and more extended make it absolutely necessary that the signal corps possess means of prompt and sure communication. While radio-telegraphy, as well as wire telegraphy, may bo of value for long distance communication, the telephone is essential for short distance communication with a. minimum of delay and a maximum of clearness. The German Army uses four principal types of apparatus. The first is a light equipment with a high-frequency vibratory device used for the calling signals and for communication by Morse signals. This apparatus is used by patrols the signal corps, and the field artillery. The second type of apparatus employs a magneto coil, and this is used for railway troops. The third typo is a combination of the first two, and is used for communication between corps; while the fourth is' a loud-speaking telephone apparatus. The high-frequency \ibrator is arranged to be connected with telegraph lines without interfering with the telegraph signals. Each post is fitted with the necessary source of power and a length of flexible cable. In the lighter, portable 'apparatus the line of insulated wire is carried on light reels which may readily be transported by the men. The heavier apparatus with its coil of cable used for the signal corps is carried on light trucks. The lines are laid on the ground or on poles, trees, etc., or in dry trenches. Field stations are connected with the existing telegraph or telephone circuits. When desired, as, for instance, for the military railway troops, special permanent lines of bronze wire are installed.