South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-14
Ocean Fog is Tanned
by NaUy Danger and
DeLay'NO7C Eliminated
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.


WASHINGTON. Sept 13.-Ocean
fog has been tanned by the navy. No
more Will battleships and liners lie
outside harbors waiting a chance to
creep in when the weather lightens
Steamship service between New
York, Liverpool, Brest. Southhamp-
ton, Cherbourg and other channel 4
ports will be as regular as railroad .
passenger trains arriving in the
giant terminals Of New York.
In a contract just signed with /
Earl c. Hanson, a young inventor
Of Los Angeles. the navy depart
ment has taken the first step 70
make practical the greatest develop
ment in marine travel since the in
vention OF the steam turbine. Tests
] will be made at once at the naval
! base at New London and later a
greater test with some OF the big
gest liners Of the world, like the
Lev latham. will be made in Ambrose
channel in New York harbor. Many
| hundred men will be placed on this
| task between now and Jan. l. As
soon as the official tests have prov
/ en- satisfactory all of the great ports
| OF the United States will be equip
ped by the navy with the device 10
defy fog, hail, rain, snow and sleet.
Gut Danger and Delay.
In allocating naval funds for this
! purpose Seo'y Daniels has acted with
celebrity in order that from the navy
itself the United States would re
ceive one Of the greatest peace-time
gifts that science has devised. By
the use Of the new invention in con-
nection with the radio compass
which the navy has now perfected
all danger or delay in ocean travel
due 70 weather is absolutely elm
mated The radio compass brings
all shipping in sight Of land and the
new device, like a friendly hand, |
reaches out and takes the biggest
Of ships through the most tortuous
channels safely and quickly 20 its
pier
Device is Simple
The new device is simplicity itself
A cable is laid in the center OF the
/ ship channel Through it is sent an
electric current Of low frequency
{ which through the listening devices
on board ship, gives off a sound OF
/ certain pitch that cannot be mis-
/ taken for any other sound. The
/ ship hugs the bale from harbOr line
10 the dock on the bridge and in
( the captains cabin listening devices
4 like telephone receivers are placed
and attached by wires to the hull Of
/ the ship The ship follows the
l course Of the cable. Any variation
away from the cable is indicated by
/ visible indicators which show in feet
F the distance away from the cable
and the ship is then put back over
/ the cable by the steering rudder IN
+ the usual way BY the ear receivers
/ the indicators may ne confirmed a.
ali times. Vessels going into port
l viii use one cable: those coming out
will use another. The sound on each
+ is different and there can be con
/ fusion and therefore no collision.
Device is Fool Proof.
Along the cable at mile Intervals
/ a section is insulated with lead.
/ Through this no sound can come
and therefore the man on listening
duty can tell instantly how far the
/ ship has progressed and by the cable
chart in front OF him can tell where
the cable turns and where the ship
must be steered 10 follow the curve
I OF the cable and the center CT the
1 channel. The new device. accord
ing 10 the experts OF The navy who
have tested it and recommended its
use. is fool proof and as reliable as
+ the telephone Il viii work in all
/ conditions OF water and weather
and no amount CT electricity in the
air or powerful wireless currents
about the ship can effect IL in any
F way.
shipping Now Tied Up.
II would be difficult 20 estimate
] the economical saving that VIII be