Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-10

from all parts of the world come In
r. dications that the mind OF man is
d concentrated more than ever before :
on devising instruments for the destruc-
ton Of his fellow men.
These instruments surpass in cruelty OF
intention, in wholesale possibilities or
slaughter. all the weapons that have yet
been employed in this most terrible OF all
wars.
Among them are monstrous cars that
will crush all human opposition and fortl-
fcations, shrapnel shells that will quad
ripple. the force OF tho present fearful pro-
jectile, shells that will oblterate ships
at twenty miles, bombs that will spread
fire over entire cities.
Undoubtedly one of the most picturesque
and terrifying implements OF war that have
been devised Is the "gyro-electric de-
stroyer." This Is large wheel forty-fve
feet high, designed to roll over enemy
trenches and wipe out all opposition. It's
gyroscopic attachment will maintain 1t in
position, 1t Is said, in spite OF all obstacles.
It will pass easily over trenches, shell
holes and hills.
One great mechanical success of the
present war has been the tank. which at
lacks trenches and field fortifrations and
avoids the terrible slaughter that must fall
on infantry attacking in the open. Two
great weaknesses Of the tanks are the
movable belt, which can be hit by rifle fire,
and it's slow speed. The gyro-electric de-
stroyer. 1t Is claimed. possesses all the
qualities of the tanks without these weak
nesses. 1t Is tremendously swift and in
vulnerable.
The gyro-electric destroyer has attracted
widespread attention in this country and
Europe Many subscriptions for the con-
structon Of the first full-sized machine
have already been sent to the Electrical
EXperimenter, whose editor II. Gernsbac CHI
Is the designer. According to the descrip
zion OF the designer the gyroelectric de-
stroyer is a single steel wheel about 45
feet high.
The top Of the wheel is not fiat, but is in
the shape Of an arc, which makes running
good deal easier. The wheel itself looks
like huge Ferris wheel, and is construct
ed Of channel steel throughout: in order to
make it as light as possible. 1t has no con-
tinuous tread or rim, but rather the steel
pieces at the circumference are spaced
about one foot apart, leaving clear space,
for two reasons. First. the weight is cut
down. Second. much better purchase is
had on the ground. the machine not being
apt to slip as would be the case II the top
of the wheel was solid.
The wheel has ono large shaft passing
through the center and extending at each
side. This shaft is hollow and need not
weigh very much. 1t is constructed Of
steel. At the hubs and at the ends of the
shaft the latter is provided with armored
pro1ectlons, when VIII not be damaged IN
case OF shell fire. In the center OF the
wheel is suspended the engine cab which
comprises gasoline engine OF some three
hundred to five hundred horsepower, the
energy being fed to an electric generator.
Two Of the electric motors are used for
propulsion Of the wheel only; they are at
tached by means of a chain drive to the
central shaft as shown.
AS soon as the motors start operating.
the engine cab swings forward while the
wheel moves forward also.
The heavy weight OF the engine cab pre-
vents 1t from turning a somersaut az It
were. but II does swing forward and in
case the vehicle is to be stopped the cab
must swing backward as shown In the
illustration below. The engineer thus has
It in his power to run the destroyer fast
or slow, simply by changing the speed OF
his motors. Ii should also be
noted that only a very moderate
speed OF the motors is neces-
sary, because the diameter OF
the wheel--45 feet-is so large
that it will move at the rate OF
from forty to sixty miles with =
the motors running at very slow --
speeds. So much for the power
plant