New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-03
IN 1886" was the reply
UNDERWATER FOG SIGNALS.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The TrihIne a few days ago noted that a
series OF experiments is about to be conducted in
England looking 10 the transmission of fog signals
through the water. rather than by air, much after
the manner OF the telephone. 1t has been said in
the past that the United States had copied or
followed England in the building of ships for the
merchant service and for the navy. too. but in the
of electricity applied to ship installation
1t may be said that England follows the United
States.
That the naval service Of the United States IS
In the advance in electricity in the instruction Of
it by lectures and in practice that Will lead to
clear understanding by those in the navy of its
interior workings. of electrical machinery and
other electrical appliances and Instruments that
are used on board vessels OF the navy. is a fact
well known. The sea-going and boys and
others who have to DO with electrical plants
this theoretical and practical instruction
as will enable them obtain idea the prin-
ciples upon which they constructed and 10
gain knowledge of the proper care and practical
handling of batteries. dynamos, motors and ap-
planes
Experiments have been conducted lately in the
navy notably on the battleship Illinois, with sub
marine fog signals. and with fairly good results
with the crude equipment used merely for the
pern,ents. The principle is Of causing vtbra tons
under the action of sound under water, the pulsa-
tons OF electricity along the wire actuating the
electro maGne: at the other end. FOR instance;
with ordinary telephone tran5rIlltter attached
to wire leading from heneath IN, The hui or the me
strokes or HgntSIlp OSll seven mics
distant reproduced at the diaphragm from
induction. The quality Of The sound however, was
very light Of course, with more perfect equip
r1ent than the one experimental with at Boston
the subnla rine sounds could probably De- conveyed
much greater distance; but at the distance noted,
and with the direction recorded, il proved that
nor only would IL possible for vessel approach
ing the coast TO determine her position with the
iphrhouee but with similar equipment and sub
rnerged bells on other and moving ships, in fogs
thee would be more certainty Of avoiding collisions
~ eea than under the present system OF fog sig
Isrit1r with whistles, bells and horns, the sound
1vayes OF which have only a limited distance OF
travel. 49, lit. x.-.L.- $1,000
roents to determine what improvements may be
racassary- to II Ike submarine signalling more per
TACT ali of the navy ships will be fitted with the
ecassarN machinery It is recognized that all sub
sTances offer more less resistance TO the flow
80 sIec+ricitv: and conductivty being the reclpro-
al ~ resstances substances OF high concuctlElty
n1erts 81 submarine fog signalling. Imperfect
are ana the less nearly perfect they are the
reate~ fhe resistance. This is more P2lpa5ly de-
55,6rstrated in the electric light EQUIPMENT some
49,. IN an electric light circuit often viii cause
= fitterine OF the lights: and many causes may
d Sought for It, when II Is really only such a
p5t1s fling rs a loose connection or the switch
ho er5 T5If there need be only few connections
zoe HUa Submarine signalling wires and those even
iut 4.1 Uatar can be readily looked after h
81. 800