Out-Periscoping the Periscope 



/% N observation apparatus with great- 

 /A er range than the periscope has 

 been constructed by Joseph de 

 Falco, of Vineland, N. J. With it, ob- 

 servations can be made by a submarine 

 without the vessel endangering itself by 

 coming so close to the surface as the 

 present submarine periscope requires. 



The "eye" of the new apparatus is an 

 inverted semi-spherical mirror. This 

 mirror is suspended from the end of a 

 horizontal rod. The rod is attached to 

 an adjustable mast, and is of the proper 

 length to bring the mirror directly above 

 a vertical, chimney-like tube in the roof 

 of the house. The "eye" may be raised 

 or lowered by means of a rope which 

 passes up over pulleys attached to the 

 horizontal arm and mast and then down 

 into the hut where the end is within im- 

 mediate reach of the observer. 



In making observations, an image of 

 all objects within a complete circle are 

 reflected by the eye-like mirror. This 

 image is magnified as it passes through a 

 series of magnifying lenses directly be- 



neath it, but far below 

 in the periscope build- 

 ing or cage. The reflec- 

 tion from the observa- 

 tion mirror "eye" is 

 finally projected on a 

 screen in front of the 

 observer. 



The arrangement of 

 these lenses is shown in 

 the accompanying dia- 

 gram. The uppermost 

 one is stationary, being 

 mounted in the vertical 

 tube on the 

 roof of the 

 building be- 

 1 o w . The 

 other 

 lenses 

 are all 

 a d - 

 justa- 

 a b 1 e 

 and 

 m a \' 



Diagram of construction of ob- 

 servation apparatus, showing 

 the "eyes" and the lenses 



The innocent-looking hut appears to be a shed with 

 an electric light pole above it 



be regulated according to the height of 

 the mirror outside, the object being, of 

 course, to focus the picture on the ob- 

 servation screen below. 



This screen is, in reality, a semi- 

 spherical shell with the concave surface 

 uppermost. It is made of white enam- 

 eled glass, so as to make a distinct 

 image of the outside world. This ob- 

 servation apparatus rests on a table of 

 suitable height for a man to sit comforta- 

 bly and watch proceedings without in- 

 curring the risk of being seen and fired 

 at. The picture thus obtained is in the 

 nature of a bird's-eye view, since the 

 mirror is located at a considerable 

 height. 



On the battle-fields of Europe a method 



716 



