The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-11-27
HAMMOND A GENIUS.
The Naval Authorities Take up His
Wireless Control for TOrpcdOcs,
(Charles w. Duke, in the PHILADELPHIA
Ledger.)

John Hays Hammond, Jr., will live
IN history as the inventor of wireless
control for torpedoes. Only last week
he visited Secretary Daniels and con-
ferred on the accomplishment of his
invention. Army engineers nave rec
commended purchase by the govern
ment of his apparatus and ideas, after
exhaustive tests conducted under the
eye Of experts.
Japan got line on the wonders of
HammOnd's electric dogs" and made
him fabulous offer. Without telling
Uncle Sam anything about it, Ham,
mond turned down the offer. His ex-
periments were then just on the turn
ing point to success and since the
Japanese offer he has made still great
er advancements.
Hammond's wirelessed-to
will virtually make the second line of
defense impregnable. That's what
the young inventor modestly claimed
for his work when United States ex-
perts first began looking over the re-
suits of his years of research.
Germany has shown the world
wonders in the line Of submarines.
But Germany had no way to guide q
torpedo to its mark after it was
launched. They depend entirely on
the accuracy of their aim and their
careful mathematical calculations.
Hammond goes further His torpedo
set in motion can be controlled by
the human voice. Simply in the prin-
ciple Of the control of mind over mat
ter. Hammond's torpedo on the crest
of the wave can be turned right or
left, forward or backward, by a wire
less impulse ashore, until crashing
eventually end-on into the target aim.
ed at.
In the dirigible raids the Germans
have let loose indiscriminate volleys
of fire darts and explosive bombs. In
the further elaboration of Hammond's
apparatus a missile can be launched in
midair and then, by the manipulation
of wireless control, directed at any
desired mark. 1t is entirely possible
that in the very near future, under the
direction Of Hammond, a shell from
monster 16-inch coast defense gun
can be similarly directed after leaving
the muzzle Of the weapon to hit any
desired mark.
From a pretty little rustic teahouse
on the high cliff fronting his home.
whence he directed most OF his ex.
periments, Hammond, Jr., told me of
his years of endeavor. High above us
sang the antennae stretching between
two towering wireless masts.
These masts rise 800 feet above their
granite bases and are said to be the
highest wooden wireless masts in the
world. They are insured at Lloyds
for $4,000, and are all part of the
apparatus with which Hammond
worked out his inventions.
In another laboratory down near
the waters edge Hammond showed
me the uncanny little electric dogs
from whence he first got his inspira-
ton for the wireless-controlle wca-
pom of war.
They are uncanny because they are
inanimate, dumb-lOoking things
which, once you point flashlight at
them, follow you about with dogged
persistence. Turn your Hashlight and
walk in an opposite direction nnG the
electric dogs" follow you on The
dog" has eyes Of bulging glass; his
body is long walnut box. Inside the
box is a storage battery. an electric
motor. solenoid magnets, sclenium
discs and relays. The dog gets
about on three wheel legs" and his
tail is an electric switch.
Hammond first brought out wire
less boat" 1t was a 40-foot craft
Will a. oPSCo VI ulllcS anu
equipped with the latest in radio-dy-
manic apparatus. The vessel was
stepping stone from the electric
dog" of the laboratory. In a short
time this small craft was making trips
to sea under the power Of her own
engines. but without a single soul
aboard. From q lookout station high
up on the cliff Hammond shot the tiny
craft back and forth over a 10-mile
course. At times the boat flew along
at the high speed OF a torpedo destroy
er.
Hammond had all manner Of dis
couragcments. He first used a type of
MarcOni cohercr, which proved unre-
liable and not at all suited for his pur-