The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-06-24
SUBMARINE WARNINGS.
New Invention Will Make the Subma-
rine EalueleSS.

1t will make submarines valueless
against battleships in warfare, ana
will render still greater service IN
time of peace by insuring ships
against collisions at. sea, either with
one another or with icebergs. Tnat
is the claim put forward for an in
vention known as the Fessenden elec-
trio oscillator, says Tit Bits. whlcs.
takes it's name from Prof. K. A. F'es-
senden. whose idea, after various
severe tests, is being adopted by Eu-
ropean powers.
Briefly. the Fessenden oscillator is
a submarine sounding apparatus, hX-
ed to vessels that send and receive
signals through water, not through
the air. These signals travel more
swiftly than they would through the
air, since sound moves through the
water at a rate of 4,400 feet per sec
cond, while through the air it moves
at the rate of only 100 feet a Sec
ond.
For some time past submarine
bells have been used with excellent
results on lightships and buoys. and
to some extent on moving vessels,
their warnings being transmitted for
miles through the water, and 1t was
while trying to extend the usefulness
of these submarine bells that Prof.
Fessenden evolved his present elec-
trio oscillator and solved the prob
lem of protecting vessels from COL
lision at sea.
His system of submarine signal
ing is really kind of water wireless.
A vessel is fitted with a couple or
these oscillators or ears is able TO
hear for a distance of several miles
any disturbing influence in the water.
Furthermore, by means of these in
struments it is able to send mes
sages through the water itself, just
as messages by wireless are dispatch
ed and received. That is to say a
battleship equipped with such instru-
ments could talk to its own subma-
rines miles away and submerged and
could actually direct their move
ments against enemies vessels.
Already several American battle
ships have been fitted with these os-
cillators, and the tests to which they
have been subjected have proved that
they are in every way to be relied
upon. The oscillator makes it posi-
Bile for a ships officer to hear the
propeller movements of an enemy
submarine. These propeller sounds
can be distinguished at distance OF
two miles, while with sound-ampll'
fyins device the distance may be eX-
tended to Eve miles or more.
Had the Titanic been fitted with
such an apparatus as the Fessenden
oscillator it might have received a
definite signal of the presence OF an
iceberg. for the, mechanism Of the
apparatus which is placed in the hold
of the ship-one oseillator on each
side-is so delicatef that It is posi-
Bile to detect an iceberg within ra-
dius of a couple Of miles
There is no doubt. according to
naval experts, that the Fessenden os-
cillator will revolutionize naval STRAIT
egy, for it is. obvious that battle
ship which can control the move
ments of submerged submarines has
an enormous advantage over the
ships of the enemy. A single cruiser
accompanied by half dozen deadly
craft steaming far below the surface
and able to maneuver at the dicta-
ton of the mother ship, which can
see what is going on. might easily
wipe out whole squadron of dread
noughts unprotected against this new
danger.