New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-25

half mile, If such distance we're
deemed necessary. II q mine were
floating near this torpedo, now dong
scout duty, 10 would automatically stop
over the mine and signal back 10 the
vessel. SO 10 could be picked up OF
destroyed - leisure.
But 10 is not necessary. the inventor
asserts. TO have a tOrpedo out ln 'front.'
Of the ship 10 indicate the presence o.
mines. These arms, increased 20 iI-
teen feet i'm length. run out from the
sides Of a battleship, with the mag
netic coils doubled in size and power
would safeguard q vessel by signalling
the presence Of any mine, submarine
or ship within a radius OF several
miles. A device is now being per
tected which will signal the approach
Of aeroplsnes or Zeppelin dIrIglDlcs.
Assertions of the inventor are based
upon results. Long before he ever
thought or so much as telling the
world that there was such machine
he built mis- models. small 90 first, but
gradually Increased their size anc
rowcr until the last is more than s,N-
teen feet in lc 1ctn and. carrying war
charge Of suncotton. Us powerful
enough to sink q first line bsttlc-hlp.
He ns de more than 200 tests. under
all conditions, and not once has the
torpedo failed 20 score hit. his last
target was high power speed boat,
which ran a ZiC-ZaC, crazy Quilt course,
but failed 20 escape what would have
been certain destruction had the tube
/ been loaded.
Even as Rome was not bull. in a
Gay. perfection In this torpedo was
lot attained in short while. The
first torpedo model built Dy skilled
mechanics for q real tcst performed
some high iinks. To begin with Do
sank by the bow and ruddcrs refused
10 answer the electric relay. Neither
could the diving fins he made 10 be-
rave So mr. Canton took 1t back 10
the place where Do was made and be-
gan al over again. The next time it
worked better. bu, failed 10 satisfy, so
the process o. pcrfccting his toy o.
death and destruction continued until.
~ last 10 stands the full fruition Of
his plans.
Nj Canton first conceived his idea
OF a self-steerine torpedo shortly after
the war in Europe broke out. lie
simply combined the magnetic coil,
which is really am enlargement Of a
submarine signalling device, with the
torpedo, and worked so that the at
traction which q mass of any metal
would have upon such a sensitive cleo
trical appliance would work upon the
current. which would be made TO con
troll the rudder. This would act so
that when discharged the missile
would be driven to the object OF the
attraction.
Europe Seeks War Device.
The idea OF the magnetic coil, the
Fundamental principle of the entire ar
rangement, had its inception at the
time that the steamship Titanic was
wrecked upon the iceberg and some
sixteen hundred JersOns met their
death in the icy waters Of the North
Atlantic. Mr. Canton has always been
7 interested in submarine signalling
and after much work he worked up a
device which would signal the ap-
proach Of ships and warn a captain of
q derelict drifting half submerged In
the vicinity of his boat. Il would also
tell Of the presence OF icebergs OF
shoals
The outbreak Of the war, however
demanded that the invention be used
as a destroyer rather than : savior
so Mr. Canton plunged into the work
Of pcrfecting the torpedo.
u is probable that before long every
ship, coastwisc and transOceanic, VIII
be equipped with this device. 10 will
make ocean traffic safer than ever be-
fore in fog and az night, for il will
warn pilots of any danger of collision
az 8 distance Of several miles and al
low plenty OF time for a change OF
course.
Mr. Canton has advised the naval Of
fcials Of this country OF his invention
but has received no reply. The Eu.
ropcan powers, however. have no,
been so tardy They have asked foi
much information, and have submitted
bids for the exclusive rights 20 the
patent The German representatives
who witnessed one Of the trials offered
a fabulous amount The British and
French have been more conservative
in their bids, but Mr.. Canton, who is
strongly pro-Allies in his sentiment
is not fascinated with the idea O.
placing such a potent weapon In tho
hands of the countries he wants 70
see crushed.
Allan c. Canton is an American
. citizen, OF British extraction. tie Is
thirtv-one years Of age and has made
numerous inventions.
Mr.. Canton is by no means satisfied
now that his torpedo is practically
/ perfected. He is now working out a
plan bv which these magnetic coil.
+ which make possible the accuracy OF
the torpedo may be used in making d
machine for the destruction OF Yep
pelin dirigibles and aeroplanes The
same principle that applies TO the tor.
pcdo viii apply TO the balloon de-
B s,rover." as Canton calls d.
With several anchored above city
small Girigiblcs. say FIVE feet long
inst large enough TO support the cleo
t,ical mechanism. war head and mag
motto coils danger Of attack from
ob,ve. such ss the Germans recently
made on Yarmouth. would be greatly
reduced The captive drigibles would
SIGNAL the approach o. the enemy. and
y-Len liberated would automatically
start the motor. The magnetic coils
attracted by the metal OF the Ieppe-
Tn's or aerOplane's motor. as the case
might be. would dart right for lt, as
Inc torpedo darts for It's target 30 me
water. The slightest contact would eX-
plode the charge and wreck any ar
craft nov " GSA