The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-08-19
YANKEE DEVISED
AERIAL TORPEDO
New Jersey Man Inventor Of
Weapon Used by Germans.
WEIGHT ONLY FIFTY POUNDS

Enough Can Be Carried In a Large Air
ship to Destroy Entire Floet of War
Vessels-Guided by Wireless Appara-
tus Until II Hits Its Msrk-Built of
Aluminium and Costs Only SIS.
Recent press dispatches told OF a
peculiar bomb which German air men
had used in Smelling Notifications
along the western battle front. The
accuracy with which these missiles
were aimed and their effectiveness
were source of mystihcatlon and
worry 10 the allied forces lnvestlga.
ton disclosed that these destructive
engines were aerial torpedoes. which
were directed by a delicate wireless
apparatus concealed In the body OF the
torpedo.
At first 1t was thought that the aerial
dirigible torpedo was II German lnven-
ton. Nobody dreamed that It origi-
mated years ago in the mind OF an
American aviator and that the war
gave impetus 10 the work OF George
Il. Russell. with the result that there
stands In his home at Hoboken. n. j.,
today n specimen of the aerial dirigi- |
BILE torpedo which the Germans arc |
said to be using.
Weighs but Fifty Pounds.
II is a wonderful little machine,
slightly more than seven feet long and
weighing ffty pounds. 1t looks like
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 100 pounds OF high explosives. When
1t is released from Its hangar under
meath an aeroplane or dirigible the tor
pedo will glide. accurately directed by
the wireless device, ut a speed of from
100 to 200 miles an hour
Mr.. Russell explained that no pro
polling force is necessary. because the
law of gravity operates as effectively
as any artificial driving force
'Tbe Russell aerial dirigible torpedo
is so constructed that It maintains It's I
any NOlitlAlbits WI |
Russell declared "The center OF gray
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 SIS 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.
can aviators. He won several prizes !
n flying exhibitions. One of these was
presented to him by former Vice Presi-
lent Zayas of Cuba.
Mr. Russell admitted that he had y
'een negotiating with agents of foreign
governments for the sale Of his rights u
o the torpedo. but he denied emphat- u
cally that the German government had u
appropriated and developed his idea.
BY means OF the wireless apparatus u
is an easy matter TO direct the course u
I the aerial torpedo from right to left, i
pward or downward. as the case may v
e. until IT squarely hits its mark.
nj hiSht NouNehitu HHut at tue TedE
the torpedo. visible only to the gun u
err In the aircraft above. materially
dds to its effectiveness, because the
perator can follow its course for miles
nd guide 1t through the dark to the M
esired mark.
Mr.. Russell claims that the torpedo is
compact that Zeppelin could carry TO
ON twenty to twenty-five of them at dc
time. This number, he claims. would tic
e sufficient to destroy a fleet of battle pr
lips. to
The entire machine Is built OF alumni th
lm with the exception OF the planes. no
hich are constructed OF specially nu
repaired canvas. 1t will weather
orm. w