The Ordway new era., 1914-05-15

they would be inaudible, but capable
of spreading far through the sea and
Of affecting properly tuned receiver.
The advantage of this inaudible sys-
tenn Ii that an enemy would be Just 20
much less likely to suspect the ap-
proach Of . torpedo directed In this
manner, and even II he were ON the
alert il would take q good deal OF time
and peculiarly fashioned detector to
pick up and to identity the guiding
note.
The principal weakness Of existing
submarine boats lies in their COM
paratively low speed when running
totally submerged.
Modern strategists believe that .
modified form of submarine will be the
ideal craft. Instead Of using torpedoes
of the usual type the proposal 10 to
employ . weapon which will. In fact.
be combination Of submarine and
torpedo, only the submarine will be OF
crewless order.
Tho moment you get rid Of the hu-
man element in q submarine II II
possible to change greatly its char.
acter and also to employ . propulsive
power which cannot now Be utilized. /,
The naval architect has done pretty
we'll in subdividing and honeycombing
the underwater body Of fighting ships
30 that the ordinary torpedo cannot
sink dreadnaught outright although
1t may wound battleship more or less
grievously. But this same expert can
not provide against the subaqueous at
tack Of . ton Of explosive unless the
heavy ship Of the battle line 10 com
pletely remodelled. This II not such .
simple matter-in fact, would com
pletely revolutionixe existing practises
ap4 the arrangements OF the powers of
attack and defense on the part Of the
ship. v
Either this revolution 10 coming or
. complete change will take place in
the getup Of the so-called capital ships.
At least this IL so II Mr.. Gardner's
scheme be worked out to its logical
climax.
What he would do IL nothing short
Of building a semi-submerged battery
Of high speed which would be the
mobile base from which he could d.
rect his torpedo attack. This vessel
could Withstand the heaviest of blows
from an enemy's guns. and It's powers
Of offense would be principally GEN.
tered In exceptionally large torpedoes
or small submarines-call them what
you will. Each Of these giant weapons
would be dirisible. and not self-con-
trolled after the manner Of the existing
automobile torpedoes.
To direct these torpedo submarines
each would be equipped with the Gard
ner inaudible sound-control apparatus.
and each Of these in turn would have
its own keynote. The observer in the
coming tower would have these
weapons released or launched from the
parent craft. and with this done he
could guide them upon their journeys
at will. 1t would not be case of
starting them upon their errands and
leaving . hit to chance. but they would
swerve and alter their courses TO meet
the changing maneuvers Of an enemy's
squadron.
Undoubtedly John Gardner's neigh
bors have now more reason than ever
to dub him the Wizard Of Knott End"
What be thus adds TO the potential
terror Of war paradoxicaliy makes him
deserving Of . more complimentary
title. because he IL probably making
actual strife Just 10 much less likely.
In this way dreadnaughts may become
back numbers. The more destructive
war becomes the less apt are nations
to go to battle.