THE FLYING TRAIN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144429, 17 July 1914, Page 8

THE FLYING TRAIN.

SCEPTICISM TURNED TO* WONDER. The flying train, has become the talk of nations. Since the first description of Mr. Emilo Bachelot’s wonderful invention appeared, its fame bus spread from England to France, Holland, Germany, and even to far-away Japan. The laboratory at Saffron Hill, with its glittering instruments and its tense, “electrical” atmosphere, from morning until night is filled with a distinguished throng of visitors, many of them representing powerful official interests. Tho Admiralty' and the War Office sent special commissioners and exports to make a close inspection of tho invention. Tho former department was represented by Admiral Sir_ Henry B. Jackson. Chief of tho Admiralty War Staff; Hoar-Admiral Edward F. ,B. Charlton, Assistant Director of Torpedoes; Captain Clement Greatorox, Naval Assistant to the Third Sea Lord; and Commander Alldin U. Moore, of | (Jin Naval Ordnance Deportment. The Naval Air Department was represented by Lieutenant Spenser Grey. Dr. Harold Spitta, bacteriologist to tho King; Sir David Salomons, tho famous scientist; and Mr. Otto Beit, the financier, wero others who lost count of tiipo as they stood engrossed in Mr. Bachelet's repeated and patient demonstration of his appliances. Among early callers wero two representatives of tho Japanese Government, and Lord Edward Grosvenor, while Mr. Gray, chief engineer of tho Marconi Company, was also an interessted observer. All those before whom Mr. Eachclct lectured and demonstrated with tireless energy were tremendously impressed with the possibilities of this flying train, which at the touch of a ; switch, can shoot through space at a speed of 300 miles an hour. 1 "* Admiral Sir Henry Jackson and his | colleagues watched the demonstrations 1 for more than an hour. They cross- | examined the inventor very closely on , every conceivable point in the working i of tke flying train, but Mr. Bachelot j c- had an answer for every question, a 1 id convincing case against every argu- ; id ment, and the naval exports freely ad- j n mitted that Mr. Bachelot had made a it deeply interesting discovery, and ono ] ;o that promised great things, r. They wore particularly attracted by I e- Mr. Bachelet’s passenger-carrying mo- | ;g del, which, unlike tho mail and parcel a. carrying train, is not intended to bo t -o propelled by “solenoid” pulling mag- . ,n nets, but by an ordinary air propeller li and motor. They asked many questions [ io concerning tho application of the sys- i st tom to tho launching of aeroplanes j jt from tho deck of a battleship. ,g “Aeroplanes would have to have an | jv aluminium surface underneath in or- j io der to be raised by this system,” said j 3t Admiral Henry Jackson, and Mr. | r, Bachclet agreed; (It is the resistance ) y offered to tho magnetic influence by tho | i. aluminium undor-body of tho flying t. train that raises it in the nirj

“Could the system to applied to the firing of guns?” asked Rear-Admiral Charlton. Air. Bachelct confessed that he had not thought of its exploitation in such a way, but could see no reason why the force of magnetic repulsion should not bo used successfully m that direction as in any other ih which power to lift heavy articles would he a desirable thing. Sir David Salomons had a long conversation with Air. Bachelet on technical pipints of his invention. He pointed out that tho principle of magnetic repulsion was not now, and Mr. Bacheilot admitted this to be so. “But,” ho addod, “I have found a way to make it do what it has never been made to do before—lift heavy weights in tho air and keep them suspended there.” “That is quite right,” said Sir David Salomons. “You have made a wonder: fnl advance, and tho development of your invention will be watched with the keenest interest by all scientists.” Tho largo number of letters - that have poured into the Bachelet laboratory from all quarters indicate a keen desire among all classes to see a flying train in operation. Air. Bachelet lias decided to throw open tho laboratory to the public in due course,' making a small charge, which will be devoted to charities.

Tho first charity to benefit by Air. Bachclct’s generous action will be tho Fresh Air Fund, which is under the auspices of tho Express aud the Standard. Two days of the public exhibition will bo set apart for ’ tho benefit of the Fresh Air Fund. Air. Bachelet has received countless offers from exhibitions, music halls, and theatres to exhibit his invention for show purposes, but he has declined them all.

“Aly invention, I hope, is to fulfil a more important mission than to act as a show entertainment,” he said.