New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Germany Crewless Raider, Old Device,
Discardedby Britain; Being Tried by U.S.
The Vernon an Electrically Directed Destroyer Found Useless
by English in lS85ohn Hays Hammond r Who Is Still tx
perimentng Sent His Yacht entyeght Miles and Return by
Shore Control-Ausrala Also Tried Similar Boat

TO steer TO the right or to the left.
This control is readily accomplished by
the use of a contact-making device op-
Grated in steps, with each step making
certain connections which result in the
desired operation. In this manner one
impulse brings the contact-riakirg-
drum 10 the first set OF contacts, and
operation No. 1, say. keeping the ship
on a straight course. Is carried out.
Two impulses move the contact-making
drum around TO the second set u con-
facts, thus bringing about the second
operation, say, swinging the rudder so
as TO turn the sraft TO the right. Three
impulses move the contact-msking
bringing about the third operation,
which swings the rudder 70 move the
craft TO the left. II desired. the con-
tact-making drum can be arranged with
almost any number Of contacts, so that
over a orc-wire circuit almost any
number OF operations within reason
can be carried out by a series OF cleo
trical impulses. There are many other
methods OF controlling electrical APP
paratus over a One-wire circuit. includ-
ing synchronous devices which inform
an operator az what moment contact
making device has established the de-
sired connections n a periodically re-
Deated cycle OF changes, so that the
operator has merely TO wait FOR a few
seconds until the desired connections
are made, whereupon he sends out the
electrical impulse.
As TO the probability OF the Ger
man crewless raiders, 10 is impossible
10 form an accurate opinion az tne
present writing. Why the ermans
should revive this idea becomes in
creasingly evident when one remembers
that British monitors of shallow
draught maintain more or less con-
slant patrol along the Belgian coast
and at various times pour a heavy nre
into the German flank resting on the
waters edge. On occasion German
communications are seriously impeded
by the British monitors, which are pro-
vided with long-range guns. In sum,
these monitors are a veritable thorn IN
the side Of the German armies lighting
in Flanders.
Operating in shallow water, these
British monitors are practically Immune
from submarine attack, and because OF
their long-range armament they are able
to keep pretty well out Of range Cf the
German shore batteries. Quite nat
urally, the Germans have been giving
British monitors, and in their desire 20
destroy them they have suddenly re-
called the crewless craft OF the past.
Given perfect visibility. which they
have made possible by using seaplane
for the observer, and making use OF
powerful gasolene engines, they have
no doubt developed craft that IS far
ahead Of anything yet attempted IN this
line. and it must have been with the
greatest confidence Of success that the
Teutons launched ter first electrically
controlled raider against the British
patrol.
But somehow or other the crewless
vessel is still far from being a deadly
weapon. The enemy is generally able
20 see il approach in time 70 avoid its
deadly contact, just as he is able 20
detect the presence OF a submarine IN
the majority Of cases. Equipped with
hooded electric lamps, as In the case
of the Sims-Edison torpedo, the new
craft should prove more difficult n de-
tect at night time or during foggy
weather At any rate. il has possibni-,
ties in the new form, under certain
conditions such as those found along
the Flanders coast.