The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-19
Radio Control of
Torpedoes Found
Army and Navy Indorse Ham
mond's Invention.

y
mond's Invention.
Washington, Feb. 14.-Arnly and
navy experts have reported the de-
vice of John Hays Hammond, Jr., for
radio control of surface craft to be
sent laden with explosives against
enemy ships, (; success. and predict
similar results with submerged craft
showing above water only wireless
antennae.
Results of tests were made public
today i'm connection with the new
fortifcations appropriation bill which
carries $4,000 for construction OF
an experimental submerged boat.
Secretary Baker wrote the house
appropriations committee, which 5
considering the bill that tho Int
army and navy board was convinced
Of the practicability of the control'
of the surface craft, and added that
there had also been demonstrations
of the possibility of the control to
aircraft, completely submerged ex-
cept for an air intake pipe. Before
finally deciding on the purchase OF
the patents S75O,000 the board de-
sire; further experiment with the sub
merged craft and a change in law for
the experiments is necessary to per-
nit building so as to make success
cetain before purchase.
Construction of the submerged
craft which will be about 80 feet and
seven feet in diameter will take TWO
years, according to Mr.. Hammond.
who told the committee Us spent
ten years and 100000 Gil his inven-
tion
There is no question whatever as
to the ability to control with great
accuracy the torpedo or carrier, what
ever kind it is" said a letter OF Maj
Gen. F. w. Coe, a member OF the
board. go long as it is-a surface YES
sci or has any antennae above the
water, by direct radio waves, either
from shore or from airplane.
.The board had before it also and
considered the ability of the enemy
70 interfere with the control of the
vessel by radio energy. Mr.. Ham
mond's claims are that no lnterter-
ence can be had with the craft out
side a radius of 100 to $50 yards from
the source of the energy; that IS
from the radio plant on a battleshlp,
for example.
ssWith such radius certain inter-
ference from a powerful wireless STA
ton is POSSIBLE but that interference
with the apparatus only operates 20
keep the torpedo on fixed course
on which it may be running.
With a shore station, having a
height Of so feet above sea level. ra-
dio control of the craft has been
demonstrated to the board up to a
distance of about seven miles, but
General Coe said if controlled from
an airplane there was no limit as 10
distance except the propelling powe.
Of the torpedo the boat that earned
it. or that airplane.
ga SUI face launch with the apoa-
ratus on it," stated General Coe, re-
lating demonstrations before the
board. was controlled from both the
shore and from an airplane the
means. Of control in each case belng
the same. The board also witnessed
the dropping Of dummy depth charges
from the stern of the boat while it
was proceeding on any desired course
General .Coe said he had ran the
craft "all around vessels coming INTO
the hacbor at will and at close
ranges there would be no difficulty III
ramning q vessel from shore.
Mr.. Hammond said an aviator al
ter four hours training on control
had risen 5000 feet in a seaplane ana
taken control of a high speed boat
running on the surface Of the water
"He was able from the height o1
1000 feet and distance OF SIX OF
seven triles in horizontal plane to
exercise absolute control over the
high speed boat" declared Mr.. Ham
mond. "He was able to take it in aud
out of Gloucester harbor through al
the shipping. around the buoys anu
aim at a rapidly moving target with
such precision he could practically
strike eight times out Of ten. A hat-
tleship would be obviously easy 10
strike
Besides carrying the provision TO
make possible the construction Oh
the submerged Hammond boat the
Notifications bill which carries a total
OF s11.199,20O for. sea coast defense
includes legislation for a complete
financial accounting on fortif1catlons
appropriation being made to congress
At the end of the next fiscal year.