The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-06-02
MARINE men ATTRACTED BY
COLLISION SAVING DEVICE
Apparatus Tested on Ocean Steam
ship Expected to Give Val
liable Aid
1T ASSURES SAFETY In FOGS

Many Of the marine disasters on the
great lakes in recent years have been
the result of collisions in fogs. and only
a few days ago one of the most sea-
worthy of lake vessels went to the bot
tom of Lake Huron in this manner
exacting heavy toll, IN human life
There is even greater danger in foggy
weather of running on rocky shores OF
shoals.
But now II is reported that a device
has been tested on the ocean, which in
sures the safety of vessels in fogs. II
is an application of wireless telegra-
ply and the apparatus was installed
on the steamship Provence of the
French line. which arrived in New
York May l6.-The Chicago Evening
Post. in a recent issue. gives the fol-
lowing description Of the new inven-
ton, which may revolutionize and
practically eliminate one OF the great
est dangers of navigation:
This apparatus, designed by two
officers OF the Italian navy, Messrs.
Bellini and Tosi. is the Hertzienne
wave azimutal compass one Of the
most important applications of wireless
telegraphy to navigation. This COM
pass enables one on board a ship To To-
cate the direction of any radiotele-
graphic invisible station OF any system
installed, either on land or on a ship.
in the same way as, with the ordinary
azimutal compass, one locates the di-
rection of any visible object
Gives Safety in Fog.
1T is well known that the near coast
reckonings are taken with the ordinary
compass. by locating the direction Of
one or several visible objects; but in
case of fog this becomes impossible. In
such cases ships are compelled to go
at a reduced speed and do not know
their exact positions. Soundings give
valuable assistance, but i'm many cases
soundings are not sufficient. The new
system on board La Provence allows |
one 10 determine the exact position Of
a wireless Geographic station. no
matter what the atmospheric condi-
tions may be. Even in fog bearings
can be taken.
zone can determine on board a
steamer equipped with the Bellini-Tosi
compass the position Of ship, and
thus avoid easily collisions in foggy |
weather.
La Provence is the first steamer in
the world to make use of it. Bellini
and Tosi also are equipping the steam
er La Navarro Of the French Line Yves.
Indian service with this compass.
Locates Ships Exactly.
"In the course Of the voyage, Havre
to New York, this compass has .n-
abled the captain of La Provence. with
the aid Of the Marconi wireless TO de-
termine with remarkable exactitude
The position Of several steamers. the
Potsdam, La Lorraine and Chicago,
without seeing them. Afterwards Cap
tain Poncelot was able TO verify the
Indications Of the compass by obtain
ing the exact position Of the last two
named ships by the aid of wireless
The installation Of the compass on
La Provence took only a few days and
I was Immediately ready for operation ,
Without the aid Of the inventors.
Captain Poncelet believes that this 5
INVENTION will revolutionlze navigation. {
lie adds that he had waited with i'm {
'atience the discovery of the solution !
Which had been sought for IN every ]
oUntry, and he firmly believes this I
ompass and the test made by the y
rench government on land, have Ct I
lst solved this difficult problem" I