The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-23

| mad been determined moro than an
hour before the vessel itself had be-
come visible over the horizon.
| IT'S almost perfect" said one Of
the naval engineers in an undertone.
The tension under which they had
worked for hours suddenly relaxed
The ships crew gathered in groups to
talk II over. There was not a dissent
ing opinion. The secret of detecting
the presence Of an unseen vessel had
been solved,
The ship steamed back to Nahant.
A long distance call was put in for
the Navy submarine base at New Lon
don.
Rush three submarine chasers to
Nahant at once"
In due time they appeared. The
party started out again, were Joined
by submarines from the Boston Navy
Yard, and anchored of the Massa-
chusettsj coast line.
Spying on the subs.
One submarine at time sub
merged. The subchasers equipped
with detectors followed her every
movement. charted her position, re-
ported to each other by special signal
devices and when everything was in
readiness rushed to a spot just over
the sub. Dummy depth bombs were
dropped. The submarine rose to the
surface. She had been within a few
feet OF her charted position.
| And now the apparatus was about
to demonstrate It's most valuable SER
vice. A series Of practical tests proved
beyond the possibility OF a doubt that
the detector could differentiate sue
cessfully between the sounds made by
surface craft and the sub. The sub
marine noises were distinct, peculiar.
ana the instrument transiating this
sound to the trained ear brought home
the message just as you when you
pick up the long distance telephone
receiver can identify the voice at the
other end Of the wire.
! The Victor Talking Machine Com
pany Of Camden, N. J., was now called
upon FOR its contribution to the inven-
ton. Photograph records of the va
rious sounds heard by the observer
were made and catalogued, thus pre-
serving a complete record of the ac-
ccmplishment OF the device. The rec
ords were used principally in training
students to identify the submarine
noises and detect the difference be-
tween submarine and surface craft.
! Watching Boston's Gateway.
| Further tests were made. Shore lis
tening stations were set I'D. During
the night trained men sat and listened
| IN
naroor. The navy attempted to slip a
submarine through the harbor en-
trance one night but the craft was de-
'ected at once and a full report of her
activities was sent to headquarters q
Few hours later. Not a ship could en-
ter or leave Boston without being
heard. In fact. 70 sensitive was the
instrument that trained listeners could
Identity ship by name once having
heard her. the engine characteristics
Of different ships being plainly audible
and distinctive.
Finally, after months Of practical op-
! GRAFTON, an instrument that was con-
sidered satisfactory was put into
OK lty ~ duseAN at the Lynn,
Mass. works OF the General Electric
| Company. Thousands OF detectors
subsequently were manufactured there.
When the submarine detector had
been turned out In sufficient quantity
the Navy Department believed that
the Allies should get the benefit of the
invention at once. A special party, in
charge OF Capt r H. Leigh of the
bureau of steam engineering, was
formed to take samples Of tho appara-
tus abroad and test It under actual
conditions before the British Admi-
rally. The instrument was likewise
demonstrated to the French and Ital-
ian navies.
Tho party consisted. besides Capt
Leigh, of Lieut.. Carter, u. 8. N; En-
sign WEIGH, U. s. N. r F.; six en-
Listed men. c. r. Eveleth, C. p. Scott
and T. p. Collins Of the General Elec-
trio Company, representing the Ma
hant group, and w. L. Nelson of the
Western Electric, who was connected
with wireless development They
sailed on board the Y. g. S. Delaware
November 20, 1917. and Joined the Brit.
ish Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow In the
Orkney Islands during the first week
OF tho following month.
Tho Admiralty and the Supreme
War Council shortly afterward adopted
the American device and from that
time on submarine patrol work was
revolutionized.
Defensive tactics which had been
employed since 1914 were no longer
the sole reliance, The war was carried
into the enemy's territory. Fighting
y