The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-11-09


about nve inches square. ne gave the
lever u sharp turn. instantly tho little
bronze propeller began 70 reyolve NJ
furious rate NOW ! will send the boat
20 ttarboard," ~ said, and another quick
movement Of the lever sont tho helm
sharp over, and pnother movement then
turned II ~ r9pidly back again Al
another signal ths screw stopped and
reversed. hh
During the day" continued Mr. Tesla.
bis hand on the lever. I'VE should STEER
our course by Keeping the two standards
IN line. but AZ night we should depend
on the electric lights, which would OF
course, be- screened 10 as not 10 be- vlsi-
bio 70 tho enemy" and NJ signal both
| tho tiny bulbs we're Illuminated.
NOW we will assume that the boat has
arrived within striking distance of the
vessel 10 be destroyed. and the bulb IN
this bow viii serve 70 show that the e1-
ploaiOn has taken place As he spoke
no touched the lever agaip and the light
dashed and was c1tingulshed.
"Imogine. " you can said Mr. Tesla.
M he went back 10 his desk, what an
lrreslBtable instrument Of destruction
We have In a torpedo boat thus controlled
which We can operate day or night. on
the surface or below II. and from anv dis
tunce that may be desired a ship thus
assallod would have no possibility OF
escape
- can apply this system Of control 10
any type Of vessel and Of any size. II
~ Is. ..Lg. Ill
approach 10 tho vessel 20 be dcstrOyed.
At tho distance Of one hundred feet. the
explosion OF 300 pounds Of dynamite will
exert a shattering effect upon battle,
ship, but there iB no reason why we
should not load vessel with % or 800
tons or even more, OF dynamite. which,
exploded even mile or 80 away. would
raise a wave that would Overwhelm the
biggest ship ever built"
Continuing his description. Mr. Tesla
said
AS 10 that part OF my invention which
involves the production Of suitable waves
or radiations ana the conveying OF the
same 20 q remote apparatus capable OF
being operated or controlled by their In
fiuence. Il may be carried out In various
ways. which are az the present time
more or less understood. For example,
I may press through a conducting path.
preferably enclosing a large area. a
rapidly varying current. and by electro
magnetic induction OF the same AFFECT a
circuit carried by a moving body.
''In this case. the action al a given |
distance will be the stronger the larger |
the area enclosed by the conductor and |
the Rreater the rate OF charge OF the |
current II the latter we're generated |
IN the ordinary ways. the rate Of change |
ana consequently the distance at which |
the action would be practically ayalla-
bic for the present purpose, would be |
very small but by adopting such means |
as have devised that is either by pass
INK through tho conducting path Of a
specially designed high frequency alter
nntor or better still az those OF a strongly |
charged condenser. n very high rate OF
change may be obtained and the effective
range Of the influence thus extended over
"A vast area. and by carefully adjusting
the circuit on the moving body 70 as 10
be In exact electromagnetic synehron-
ism with the primary disturbances this
influence may be utilized at a great dis
tance
Another way TO carry out my inven-
tlon is 10 direct the currents or DIS
charges OF high frequency machine
or condenser through u circuit. one ter
minal of which Is connected directly or
inductiyely with the ground and the
other with a body. preferably a large
surface and at an elevation. In this case.
II the circuit on the moving body be
similarly arranged or connected. differ
enoes Of potential on the terminals OF
the circuit either by cOnduct.on or cleo
,rostatic Induction reproduced and the
same objects attained
''Still another way is 10 pass the cur
rents simply through the ground by con-
Meeting both the terminals OF the source
Of high frequency currents to earth at
different and remote points and TO utli-
iEe the currents spreading through the
ground for Affecting the receiving circuit
proper placed and adjusted.
"Finally. / may avail myself. In carry
ing out my invention, OF electrical oscil-
latlons which DO not fol'ow any particular
conducting path. but propagate in
straight lines through space OF rays.
waves. pulses or disturbances OF any
kind capable OF briuginS the mechan-
ism OF moving body into action from a
distance and at the win OF the operator
by their effect on suitable controlling
devices"