Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-07-22
YANKEE DEVISED
AERIAL TORPEDO
New Jersey Man Inventor Of
Weapon Used by Germans.
WEIGHT ONLY FIFTY POUNDS

Enough Can De Carried In a Large Air
ship to Destroy Entire Fleet of War
Vessels-Guided by Wireless Appara-
tus Until 1t Hits Its Mark-BuiIt of
Aluminium and Costs Only SIS.
Recent press dispatches told of
peculiar bomb which German air men
had used in shelling Notifications
along the western battle front The
accuracy with which these missiles
were aimed and their effectiveness
were a source of mystihcation and
worry to the allied forces. Investiga-
ton disclosed that these destructive
engines were aerial torpedoes, which
were directed by delicate wireless
apparatus concealed in the body OF the
torpedo.
At first 1t was thought that the aerial
dirtgible torpedo was a German inven-
ton. Nobody dreamed that It origi-
mated years ago in the mind of an
American aviator and that the war
gave impetus to the work of George
F. Russell, with the result that there
stands in his home at Hoboken, N. j.,
today specimen of the aerial dirigi-
BILE torpedo which the Germans are
said to be using.
Weighs but Fifty Pounds.
1t Is wonderful little machine,
slightly more than Seven feet long and
weighing fifty pounds. 1t looks like q
miniature flying machine. Besides the
wireless machinery and the intricate
steering device there is enough room In
the seven foot body to carry from 100
to 80 pounds of high explosives. When
it is released from its hangar under
meath an aeroplane or dirigible the tor
pedo will glide, accurately directed by
the wireless device, at a speed of from
150 to 200 miles an hour.
Mr.. Russell explained that no pro
pelling force is necessary, because the
law of gravity operates as effectively
as any artificial driving force.
THE Russell aerial dirigible torpedo
is so constructed that it maintains its
equilibrium under any condition." Mr..
Russell declared. ''The center of grav-
ity is perfectly balanced. and the planes
are SO constructed that the torpedo
cannot tip over, no matter from what
angle or with what force the wind
may blow.
ut costs only $75 to construct this
aerial torpedo as against several thou
sand dollars which it costs to construct
a submarine torpedo"
Mr.. Russell is one of the first Amer.
ican aviators. He won several prizes
In flying exhibitions One of these was
presented to him by former Vice Presi-
dent Zayas of Cuba.
Mr.. Russell admitted that he had
been negotiating with agents of foreign
governments for the sale of his rights
to the torpedo, but he denied emphat-
ically that the German government had
appropriated and developed his idea.
By means of the wireless apparatus
1t is an easy matter to direct the course
of the aerial torpedo from right to left,
upward or downward, as the case may
be, until 1t squarely hits its mark.
At night concealed light at the rear
Of the torpedo, visible only to the gun
ner in the aircraft above, materially
adds to its effectiveness, because the
operator can follow its course for miles
and guide 1t through the dark to the
desired mark.
Mr.. Russell claims that the torpedo is
so compact that & Zeppelin could carry
from twenty to twenty-five of them at
a time. This number, he claims, would
be sufficient to destroy fleet of battle
ships.
The entire machine is built of alumni
mum with the exception of the planes.
which are constructed of a specially
prepared canvas. 1t will weather a
storm.