The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-27
RADIO RUN BOAT
AWAR MARVEL,
SAYARMY MEN
Hammond's Torpedo Inycn-
ton Declared to Be Il
Bic Success.
USEFUL FOR OFFENCE
As WE'LL AS DEFENCE

wAsuiSGroN. Nov. 26.-That John
Havs Hammond. Jr., has developed "A new
offensive weapon of great value. both to
coast fortifications and the navy. is the
conviction Of army officers familiar with
IN. performance Of his radio controlled
boat
This became known here to-day with the
reurn OF special commission of army
officers sent to Gloucester. Mass, to oh
serve the operation of Hammonds boat.
the Natalia. This commission consisted of
Col. X. T.. Davis. Capt Francis j. Behr
and Lieut. ;. NJ. Decker
Cap.. Behr spent several months work.
ing with Mr.. Hammond at the latter's
laboratories At Gloucester and will join in
making a report to the United states
Board OF Ordnance and Fortications re-
garding the Hammond boat.
There is every reason to believe that
this report will contain hearty and I'M
qualified Endorsement OF the boat as a de-
vice afrordns the basis for substantial
and valuable additions to the offensive
powers Of the coast defences OF the United
States.
Officers who have had years of eXpe-
renee with inventors and have become
cautious with regard to inventions are en-
thusiastlC over the Hammond craft They
are satisfied that a radio controlled tor
pedo with hitting power very much
greater than any torpedo now known may
be regarded as being developed TO a high
degree of utility
Furthermore. while the purpose OF the
investigation Of the Hammond invention
has been primarily to determine whether
his device could be used in conjunction
wiki the harbor defences of the United
S,At,s it has also developed that there rs
good reason for looking forward to the
successful application of this device to the
conditions Of conflict between opposing
1eets at sea.
Methods Carefully Concealed.
Mr. Hammond has advanced far ahead
OF amy inventor in Europe at work on the
same problem. 1t is said. so that the
United States Is assured of the exclusive
Use Of this weapon for an indefinite period.
The methods by which Mr.. Hammond at
tanned his success have been all care
fully guarded II is stated, so that there
IS little danger of their becoming known
10 inventors OF other nationalities.
The commission of army officers. just
returned from Gloucester saw MIR. Ham
mond put his boat through all its PAGES.
without single failure to respond to
radio control being recorded. Sitting in
his laboratory on shore Mr.. Hammond
put the Natalia ON her course and held
her there until the moment he wished to
divert her. when the craft bore off at
precisely the angles desired by the con-
uoller. II IL declared that Mr.. Hammond
was able to direct the movements of the
Aatal!a absolutely a. will.
The range OF vision for observing small
craft Oh the ocean surface is about eight
miles and Mr.. Hammond demonstrated
that he had the Natalia under perfect
control within this range. which is as
great a. is necessary. The boat could be
controlled at much greater distances,
limited only by the power of the radio
station sending out the controlling waves.
Mr. Hammond uses only a five kilowatt
station, whereas the modern battleship
carr es wireless apparatus of from
20 10 80 kilowatts.
Prevention of Interference.
An important Improvement has been
added to the Hammond apparatus in the
form OF a device for preventing interfer-
ence with his control BY this means
ne person operating the boat or torpedo
assured that no enemy with radio
apparatus NJ higher power than that used
10 dircct the movements OF the craft san
suppress the waves controlling il.
Tho Hammond invention has been be-
TO-" the War Department for more than
year and has been closely studied by
onlcers OF the Coast Artillery Corps. The
hr"longatiou of their studies. however
mas only served TO convince them that
me Young inventor has evolved something
worth while. Gen. T.. NJ. Weaver. chief
OF the Coast Artillery Corps, makes the
IoAo"!ng statement regarding the Ham
mhrd invention:
Ny. Hammond has. in the opinion OF
me thi"f Of Coast Artillery, at the pres
ent TINE worked out the details of radio
contr'l 90 as to make it possible to apply
IN "a" form of spar torpedo 20 a
'no'orhuai His further experiments point
10 satisfactory solution of the problem
applying his equipment TO "A submerged
Jpp'uo under radio control from shore
IHe It stance to which this control car
'e exercised il limited only by the dis
I'm wess of vision aided by telescopes.
n should be pointed out that this
nov type Of weapon does not displace the
submarine mine defence. The radio con-
rolled tprp' 10 Is an offensive weapon
'nd ike the prOjectlles of guns and NOR
''Fs seeks its own target and seeks II
O'd,r constantly controlled direction.
"t' such q means Of attack were added
~ those We now have We would ther
D" 'ble TO attack an enemy's ships by
% 'ar fire falling vertically on the decks
~ tn" ships, hv guuiire against the side
'i''.' and btrhette armOr and by sub
'1. mines and radio controlled torpedo
below water The controllable,- mobil,
'ir Of torpedo has been always con
N.n' 1t desirable as "A feature Of coas
"e'' 90 armament, hut no practical so
l'.Du Of the problem has heretofore beer
Df"rrd
NaEti officers are keenly interested II
tho Hammond radio controlled boat an'
a." awaiting the report Of the commission
~ army officers to be submitted to tn,
y 'rd Of ordnance and Fortifications.
80 reason is yet seen Why the devic
'' .D' Ice successfully used in the nav,
de "A u,ogt formidable addition Z,