MAKING THE SEA SAFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 13, 3 June 1914, Page 6

MAKING THE SEA SAFE.

A remarkable invention pregnant with useful possibilities is the wireless longdistance mirror. Its purpose, in brief, is to convey an image 111 I lie same manner sounds are communicated, it is a radical improvement on the old-time camera obscura, a structure in which the real image of an object is projected upon 11 white table or other plane surface. Not only does tile new apparatus reflect on a mirror all objects located and all happenings occurring within a much greater area than the camera ob-' scura, but it operates at night. Just how the machine works has not yet been revealed, but it is known to consist of a web of wires, attached to 11 tall mast, and it is this web which receives the impressions and projects them on to the mirror located at the b.i«e of .lie .:...--. The principal value of the new apparatus will be in its applcation to ships. It is expected to prevent collisions wth other ships, ice-bergs, or derelicts by disclosing the whereabouts of such dangers to the lookout long before the vessel conies within striking distance. The imago of every object within a radius of two or three miles is thrown on to the mirror and at night or in 11 fog the value of such an apparatus to the mariner could hardly lie overestimated. It is claimed, too, that the long-distance mirror would prove a valuable aid to armies in time of war. A test was recently made at Yallejo, California, and the inIstrmnent was said to accomplish all that !hud been claimed for it. The night wa, dark, Imi a perfect picture of the .dis- | trict within a radius of two miles was 'clearly shown on the mirror. All the iiietivitieH of the Mare I-land navy yard, I railway trains passing up and down, the j valley, and pedestrians in the city ■ streets were shown.