The Democratic advocate., 1921-10-14
RADIO CONTROL u
...s OF SHIPS NEXT
Successful Steering Of Iowa From
Another Vessel Leads
,sa to New Tests.
PLAN TO EQUIP. OTHER SHIPS
6attIesnlp Runs Without Hitch Five
Miles From Operator During Bomb
Tests--Army and Navy Off
| GERS Call II seien-
tifie Triumph.


Washington. = The performance Of
the battleship Iowa under radio con
troll during recent aerial bombing tests
may lead 10 revolutionary changes in
naval development, officers think.
Without a person on board, the Iowa
was Unanswered from the battleship
Ohio, five miles away, with the utmost
precision and there was not hitch
in the mechanism In more than two
hours while the Iowa was being
bombed.
1t was scientific triumph. The
Iowa was real Flying Dutchman,"
n counterpart Of that mythical crew
less ghost OF the seas as she obeyed
the viii OF Capt. +. l.. Chadwick on
the Ohio, almost hull down on the ho-
rIzon. The invisible, magic fingers Of
the radio reached out across the sca
To whirl the lowa's steering wheel,
operate the fuel oil and water supply
. valves and start and stop the ship.
So perfectly did the control function
that the officer on the Ohio maneu-
vered the Iowa away from the ATTACK
ing air forces at the moment the
bombs were being released, varying
the speed Of the target vessel at will.
Officers Much Impressed.
Army and navy officers who Wit
messed the test were much impressed
By the possibilities Of development Of
the radio control idea for use IA future
wars. 1t was said TO be apparent that
radio control might eliminate some
loss OF life in such enterprises as
block ship" operations as when the
British undertook at ZccbrugEe aud
ostend to bottle up German subma-
rines. The "block ship" Of the future.
II was pointed out, might sail screnely
into an enemy har5or without a soul
on board and be sunk 10 Obstrucl its
channel by the electrical explosion OF
her magazines.
Already the navy Is working out
plans for shifting control at VIII from
surface vessel like the Ohio to air.
craft, either heavier or lighter than
air. The radio control device on the
ohio is so simple, officers say that
lltle difficulty is anticipated In adapt
ing It for use IN an dlrplane or a diri-
glble.
When this development ~ worked
out the controlling aircraft win b.
able 10 work at an altitude Of 10000
feet and above, safe from amy gunhrc
from below, and Steer the controlled
vessel anywhere on the sea within fuel
radius
To Equip Other ships.
A movement Is afoot TO ins9ll radio
control on al least one more obsolete
bnlilcship and two old desroycrs to
serve ms targets for aerial bombinr
practice aud further experiments WITH
radio control. Extension Of expert
mrnts 10 the possibility OF applying
the radio control idea to aircraft also
is under consideration and Il is within
probabilities that giant crcwless bomb
ing planes, loaded with high eXplo-
sivcs could be launched against naval
vessels cities and forts with no costly
sacrifice Of trained officers and men,
The entire radio control idea, post.
war development, IN It's present appli.
cation Is IN It's infancy naval officers
believe, and they expect great develop.
ments ia the efficiency and scope OF
the control within the next few years.