A “WIRELESS” WONDER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 41, 3 October 1911, Page 6

A “WIRELESS” WONDER.

CREWLESS SHIP UNDER PERFECT COMMAND THREE MILES FROM SHORE. Herr Christian Wirth, of Nuremberg, recently gave an interesting illustration of a new method invented by him, whereby a vessel may be controlled without, any individual being on board and without any communication with the shore. By Herr Wirtb’s invention ho is able to transmit power by means of radio-telegraphy and so control entirely the movements of the vessel.

1 he experiment, was carried out upon the Y ansco. The model, which was 50 feet in length and fitted with two masts, carried what are termed “aerials”, and was stationed about a kilometre from the shore. With the utmost regularity and with a marvellous precision and a wonderful absence of hesitation’ or delay,, the engines of the model started, reversed or stopped by the more pressure of a button on -shore, the helm also being regulated with equal precision. A large party of naval officers and experts in the engineering world witnessed the remarkable and wonderful sight of a vessel being manoeuvred from the shore without the assistance of wires or any other similar means of communication. The mechanism on hoard the vessel is so adjusted that as soon as what may be termed a certan “command” was given, a coloured light showed on the vessel. In explaining the work-

nig of tin’s most wonderful of modern inventions, it was pointed out that not only could a ship be controlled in tin’s manner, but that torpedoes and guns could also be controlled ami fired by this radio-telegraphic system.

Future experience alone will “show to what extent this invention will he developed. Considering, however, that the present distance over which the vessel can he manipulated is about three miles, it speaks well for the future ol this ingenious discovery.