Evening star., 1922-04-30
NAVY IS PERFECTING DEVICE
TO SCRAMBLE" FOES RADIO
Aircraft and Surface Warships Both
Figure in Scheme Soon to Be
Given Final Test.

troll of aircraft and torpedoes of vari-
Gus types. also of surface ships. The
Briscoe plans have been under de-
velopment and experimentation since
the summer of 1919.
Idea Logically Extended.
1t having been found practicable to
control one surface ship from another
,hy radio, which operates all of the
unnamed vessels machinery. Com
mander Briscoe arged 1T would be
logical that radio apparatus In air
ships could as successfully controi
surface ships; also that one aircraft
could control another and finally could
control torpedoes. This would permit
rigid airships. whose entire useful
load is given over to radio apparatus.
mothering and controlling various
units of the fleet, thereby reducing
the number of men required and less
ening the casualties In actual combat.
A huge rigid airship OF the Zeppelin
type. of ten million cubic feet gas
capacity, in Commander Briscoe's
view could carry sufficient radio ap-
paratus to control squadron of light
torpedo craft on the sea or barrages
of torpedoes and several squadrons OF
airplanes at the same time. This air.
ship could. by sending out radio
waves of varying lengths. interfere
with the enemy's wireless and render
1t powerless.
For example, by lowering over an
enemy's fleet at high altitude. pro-
tected by its own fighting planes II
mothers, the radio-airship could put
out Of commission enemy wireless ap-
paratus of all types by interference.
1t could obstruct radio control of his
surface ships and aircraft and make
hash of his messages and intelligence
ment in our hands may be able prac-
tically to scrap the air service and
navy of an enemy.
In the opinion of Comma nder Briscoe.
eGcceSS is as certain In the expert
ments conducted with the battleship
steering gear were controlled by wire
less from the battleship Ohio ten miles
away, without human being stepping
foot on board the Iowa.
Hammond Test First.
1t is authoritatively stated that a
practical solution of the problem Of
radio control from aircraft came as a
natural step following the Iowa expert
ment. which was an outgrowth Of the
inventions of John Hays Hammond. jr.,
who first controlled small yacht in
Massachusetts bay from a radio station
at Marblehead some years ago.. From
this initial discovery the radio ap-
paratus and control of the battleship
Iowa was developed. In the same man
ner radio control Of aircraft has been
worked out, with it's scheme Of wire
less interference as an offensive and
defensive weapon.
Fokker. the celebrated Dutch inventor.
had perfected airplanes operated by
radio from the ground and successful
trials over distance of twelve miles
were made in Germany in November.
1918 This plan used salvaged airplanes.
which were to be loaded with explo-
sives and to be dropped over the allied
lines and ammunition dumps.
The American air service was work.
ing out a radio-directed aerial torpedo
at McCook field. Dayton, Ohio, about
the same time. and the tests were close
to success when the armistice came.
The great improvement in radio during
the last three years. experts believe,
will result in many sensational innova-
tions which are bound to have far
more fearsome effect upon civilization
than was aroused by the introduction Of
gases and chemicals during the late
war,