Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-14
The Navy Department Is InVsslI-
gazing Possibility Of Exploding
Them by Electrical Waves.
RESULTS ARE REAL SURPRISING
FoSeIan Inventors Invited to Submit
Their Discoveries to the United
States to be Tested. Other Ma.
tons Making Experimlnta on tho
Same Linc-Teets at Newport, r. !.

WASHINGTON, u. c.. Sept. 49,
Naval officers say that tho tests being
arranged ut Newport for the now sub
marine mine invented by Harry Stcnit-
stops OF tho investigation the bureau
ui ordinance is carrying OH relative to
iuturo possibilities of exploding tor
pcdocs and submarine mines from
distance by Iloranz waves.
Successful experiments abroad wit
messed by American naval officers
have prompted the Navy Department
To investigate this question thorough
~ and to enter into negotiations with
several French submarine mine ex-
perts 10 submit their inventions to the
United States government for oxamI-
nnlon. The British and Japanese
governments are also looking into the
matter.
II IL said by some authorities that
the time Is approaching when sub
murine mines ana torpcdocs may bo
exploded by an electrical apparatus
aboard ship before the ship comcs
within harms range. Even nmmuni.
ton in the magainzes OF battleship
may be endangered by electrical
waves unless some provisions are
made against them
o'Sdt oSC'CCY
AS secrecy is maintained at tho
Navy Department no details arc oh
tninnble as TO how far the process or
affecting explosives by electric waves
has progressed or what the result of
recent experiments has been. II is adj
mitted, however, that experiments
have been carried out ana that their
results have been surprising
Tho iUpn of uHiuU p1aCtrfpit,, ~ ~
distance MS an agent against explo-
sivcs was first suggested to naval ex-
perts by tho effect which RAYS OF
light have upon chlorine gas. Expert
ments were made first with the white
light, then with the different lights
forming the spectrum. The effect was
found To vary according to the vlbra-
lions of the rays.
After experiments with electric
waves made upon chemicals and on
explosives showed unlocked for re-
suits. French experts established the
| fact that un-or certain conditions
| electric waves OF high frequency
| could be used MS means of affecting
explosives from distance. Results
We're first obtained from distance of
| II few feet and later, by varying the
frequency. results were obtained for
twenty, tnlrty, ana even hfty rect. III
each case the explosives had to be
specially prepared. but the inventors
are confident that they will succeed
in putting In practice the ideas SO
that high explosives may be exploded
without preliminary preparation.
Other Nations Experimenting.
Experiments conducted by French
authorities and closely watched by
English, American and Japanese ex-
perts have been remarkably success
full and have attracted widespread
attention.
Rear Admiral Newton n. Mason,
chief of the bureau of ordinance, nd
| mlttcd today that the bureau had also
conducted experiments with wireless
electric waves and that they had been
| for the most part successful. In each
case. however, special preparations
! are necessary for the explosives. Some
ordnance officers said today that the
explosion of torpedocs and submarine
mines by means of electric waves has
been demonstrated to the satisfaction
of the Navy Department.