The herald., 1898-11-09
PEACE CAME TOO SOON
FOR TESLA TO WIN UNDYING
REPUTATION
MIGHT HAVE MASHED CERvERA
While the Great Electrician Was
Safely Concealed in the Cellar
Under His House
Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, Nov. 8.-Nikola Tesla, the
electrical expert, in newspaper interview,
describes an application OF electricity
whereby without the interposition of any
man can control and direct, with absolute
exactltude, the movements of new type of
vessel, balloon or land vehicle at any dis
tance that may be desired. From station
on shore, or from the deck of vessel un-
der way, torpedo boat equipped with Mr.
Iesla,s controlling device may be pro-
PEELED either on or below the surface, ma
neuvered at will in any direction and finally
brought into contact and exploded against
the side, of hostile vessel at any point
within the range of the vision of the oper-
ator. More than this, assuming that it
were possible to accurately locate the posi-
tion of the vessel which it is desired to de-
It even if the ship lay in the harbor of
Southampton and the operator was sta
toned at Sandy Hook.
Mr.. Tesla said that some months had
elapsed since he had fully developed his
device, for which he has applied for a
patent; When it was learned that Ad
miral Cervera was bottled up at Santiago,
it was his intention to apply his mechanism
to several launches and similar small craft
loaded with high explosives and annihilate
the fleet at anchor. Admiral Cervera, how.
ever, came out and met his fate under the
guns of the American feet before the neces.
sary arrangements could be made. Then
vessels in Havana harbor, only. to be
thwarted by the proclamation of the sus-
pension of hostilities.
Hitherto" said Mr.. Tesla, "the only
means of controlling the movements of
vessel from itance have been supplied
through the medium of flexible conductor
such as an electric cable, but this system is
subject to obvious limitations such as are
imposed by the length, weight and strength
of the conductor which can be practically
used; by the difficulty of maintaining
with safety the high speed of the vessel or
changing the direction of her movements
with rapidity; the necessity of effecting the
fixed, and from many other drawbacks
which are inseparably connected with such
system
'.'The plan which I have perfected in.
wolves none of these objections, for am en-
abled by the use of my invention to employ
any means of propulsion, to impart to the
moving body or vessel the highest speed,
To control the operations of its machinery,
and to direct its movements from either
fixed point or body moving and changing
its direction, however rapidly, and to main
tain this control over great distances with
out any artificial connections between the
vessel and the apparatus governing its
and without such restrictions
as this must necessarily impose.
"In a broad sense, then, my invention
differs from all of those systems which pro-
vide for the control of the mechanism car
ried by moving object and governing its
motion, in that l require no intermediate
wires, cables or other form of electrical
or mechanical connections with the object
save the natural media in space. l ac-
complish, nevertheless, similar results and
in much more practical manner by produc-
ing waves, impulses or radiations which are
received through the earth water or atmos-
phere by suitable apparatus on the moving
body and causes the desired actions, so
long as the body remains within the active
region or effective range of such currents,
waves, impulses or radiations.
Having explained to you some of the
possibilities of the device, will now give
YOU practical example of the workings of
the model before going into detailed de-
scription of how am able to produce these
results"
Eleyated on sticks on table in the cen
ter of the laboratory stood model of
screw propelled craft, about four feet long
and somewhat disproportionately wide and
deep. Mr.. Tesla explained that it was
merely working model which he has had
made to follow the usual sharp lines of
torpedo boat. The deck was slightly
lrched and surmounted by three slender
IDLY higher than the other two, which car
ried small incandescent bulbs, third bulb
being fixed at the bow.
The keel consisted of massive copper
plate, the propeller and rudder being in the |
usual positions, Mr.. Tesla explained that
he boat. contained the propelling machin-
,ry, consisting of an electric motor, actuated
~ storage battery in the hold, another
motor to actuate the rudder and the deli |
cate mechanism which performs the func-
ion. of receiving through the central stan |
lard the electrical impulses sent through |
he atmosphere from the distant operating
station, which set in motion the pro-
hem light or extinguish the electric bulbs |
md fire the exploding charge in chamber |
n the bow in response to signals sent by |
the operator.
"Now watch" said the inventor and 60 |
ng to table on the other side of the room
IN which lay little switchboard five inches
family the little bronze propeller began to |
revolve at furious rate.
"Now I will send the boat to starboard."
le said, and another quick movement of the |
ever sent the helm sharp over and another |
movement turned it as rapidly back again.
At another signal the screw stopped and
'eversed.
"During the day." continued Mr.. Tesla, !
lis hand on the lever, eve should steer our |
,ourse by keeping the two standards in line, |
)ut at night we should depend upon the
electric lights, which would of course be
screened so as not to be visible to the en-
,my," and at signal both the tiny bulbs
we're illuminated.
"Now we will assume that the bow has
rrived within striking distance of the YES
el to be destroyed and the bulb in the bow
will serve to- show that the explosion has
aiken place."
As he spoke, he touched the lever again
md the light flashed and was extinguished.
asna to YSs s ds saa M hssa
lie instrument of destruction we have in
an operate day or night on the surface or
,elow it and from any distance that is de-
ired. A ship thus sailed would have no
possible show of escape.
"I can apply this system of control to any
ype of vessel and of any size. It is not |
wen necessary to make a close approach to
he vessel to be destroyed. At the distance
# 100 feet the explosion of two hundred
pounds of dynamite will exert shatterinQ
fleet on a battleship, but there is no reason
Why we should not load vessel with 200
# 800 tons, or even more, of dynamite which,
xploded even a mile or so away, would raise
wave that would overwhelm the biggest
hip ever built"
Continuing his description, Mr.. Tesla said:
Gas to that part Of my invention which in
olives the production of suitable waves, or
adiations and the conveying of the same to
remote receiving apparatus, capable of
'eing operated or controlled by their in
luence, it may be carried out in various ways
vhich are at the present time more or less
r |