Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-30
MARVELLOUS PLANS

MARVELLOUS PLANS
The battleship Iowa, which was
put in commission in 1897 at a cost
of more than three millions and is
now converted into a training ship
and equipped with radio control, was
t" play a very conspicuous part in an
unprecedented performance which
was postponed on account of fog
The conception of the performance is
almost staggering to the mind of one
unacqUainted with the marvellous in
ventions of the past few years.
The outline of the plan is: this bat
tleship to be controlled by an opera
tor in a distant ship hidden by a
smoke screen; to manoeuvre over an
area 200 by 100 miles, beset by air
craft and submarines. started,
stopped, zig tagging, full steam
ahead. or astern, under the direction
of wireless currents affecting the
delicate apparatus on board the Iowa
by means of an apparatus perfected
ty John Hayes Hammond, Jr., all for
the purpose of determining as nearly
a s may be, which after all won't be to
q certainty, whether hostile craft
may approach our shores if we are
protected by aircraft and submar-
ines. When the Iowa is started
toward land the aircraft and sub
marines put out from port to locate
The ship and put it out of commits
sion.
The plans provide that after the
engines of the Iowa are started the
ship will be abandoned to the control
officer on board the controlling vessel
The aerial on the Iowa is to inter-
cept the first radio signal sent out
and transmit it to the radio receiver
located we'll below deck. This Sig
nal is then amplified by means of spe-
cial vacuum tube amplifiers and is
switch, which in turn operates a
an electrical circuit which operates
an electrically controlled pneumatic
valve. When this valve opens, it ad-
mits compressed air to the throttle
control of the main engines. which
causes the throttle to open and bring
the ship up to full speed The above
mentioned relay also operates de-
vice called commutator which is
1, special switch having control of the
steering mechanism. The steering
gear consists of standard steam en-
sinc driven rudder gear, the throttle
valve of the engine being geared to
a small electric motor. The COM
mutator is connected to the control
panel Of this motor and is thus able
to operate tho electric motor which in
turn causes the steam engine to drive
the rudder either starhoard or port as
desired"
The steering is to he by means Of
d gyro- compass
The commutator might be con-
sidered the mechanical brains of the
Iowa 1t receives the radio signals
and interprets them passing them on
directly to the electric motor control
ling the steering engine, if the order
is either starhoard or port, or giving
the gyro- compass control, if that is
the order. Ii the officer in control
desires to stop the Iowa. he sends
signal of about ten seconds duration
This operates a special relay which
opens the circuit on an electrically
controlled pneumatic valve, which
shuts off the various fuel and feed
pumps. thus shutting down the power
plant and stopping the ship. A
special safety device is provided in
the form of time clock. which auto
matically shuts everything down in
case the radio receiving apparatus
should become imperative, or in case
no control signals were received after
q certain lapse of time.
Whatever may come of these mar
vicious plans-even if the machinery
of control breaks down enough has so
far been demonstrated to show that
the huge conceit is not a vain one
the undertaking affords a revelation
respecting the possibilities of both
peace and welfare. Our forefathers
many of them at least-would have
thought such an adventure into the
realm of wireless mysteries actually
impious. But why not perfect it, and
if war there must be let each side by
agreement to abide by the decision
send out it's scientific achievement as
it's David and Goliath to fight the
battle, under control of wireless ma
nipulated in safety so that no blood
may be spilled? Then shall the peo-
pie that have perfected the mightiest
engines be declared the victors and
the world once again go about it's
business of producing sustenance for
the war engines of the future.
England had to endure a loss