THE PROGRESS OF WIRELESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 25 February 1911, Page 9

THE PROGRESS OF WIRELESS

SENDING A TORPEDO MOM THE SHORE. 1 The cables recently announced that a French inventor mimed Gabert had made a sensation by improving on all past methods of steering torpedoes by wireless. The experiments were made at (Jhalonser-Maruo. The projectile, the propeller and rudder of which are distinctly visible, is provided with a remarkable superstructure. It is well known that torpedoes are rather difficult to launch with safety, as their speed is so very small for a projectile, while the object of air is usually in motion. The Gabet torpedo is intended to eliminate both drawbacks, by automatically moving under the action of a motor plant, while being steered easily and safely from the shore—or from shipboard—by means of electric waves. The wireless signals given out from the sending apparatus 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 curries a much larger explosive charge than in any other types 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 lloat surrounding the projectile in which are carried the apparatus controlling the 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 out these wonderful electric waves.

Successful tests were recently made on the Dutzendteich, a small lake in the outskirts of Nurembery, a motor launch being steered by wireless transmission from sending apparatus installed at the lighthouse. Orders were transmitted from the wireless sender to the remote switch and thence to the rudder of the motor launch with lightning speed, so that the rattling of the sender and the operator of the electric switch could be perceived simultaneously on approaching with the motor launch the lighthouse where the sending apparatus had been located. Excellent results were obtained in this connection with a special contact retarding device intended to paralyse, in due time, any erroneous manipulation. Several curves and complete circles to the right and left were described readily bv the motor launch.

The apparatus differs considerably from that used by Gabet for the steering of torpeloes. Whereas Gabet ensures the contact retarding by means of a curved exhausted glass tube filled with a drop of mercury—which arrangement in the ease of oscillations of the launch is liable to get out of order—the ship-steer-ing device is provided for the same purpose with a purely electro-mechanical arrangement warranting a perfectly reliable operation of the apparatus.