Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-18
Tor AI / system
Special Naval Board to Investigate
Wireless Telegraphy Makes a
Favorable Report
Claims the System is Adapted For
All Styles Of Naval
Vessels.
Now Believed That 1t Will Be In
troduced Into the American
Navy.

board of navy officers that had in
charge the investigation of the Marco
nj wirelss biography. The conclusions
of this board and its recommendation
that the system be given a trial in the
navy We're given out yesterday after
noon by Admiral Bradford, the chief
executive of the bureau of equipment,
under whose supervision the govern
mental tests on board the New York
and Massachusetts We're recently made.
The report is surprise in that 1t is
much more flattering than outsiders
have expected, and in this regard adds
new laurels to those already won by
Signor Marconi.
The inspecting board consisted of
Lieutenant Commander j. T. Newton
Lieutenant j. b. Blish and Lieutenant
f. X. Hill. Their report is as follows:
I'VE respectfully submit the follow
ing findings as the result of our inves-
tigation of the Marconi system of wire
less telegraphy:
Il. II is we'll adapted for use in
squadron signaling under conditions of
rain, fog, darkness and motion of ship.
The wind, rain, fog and other condi-
tons of weather do not affect the
transmission through space. but damp
ness may reduce the range, rapidity
and accuracy by impairing the insula-
ton of the aerial wire and the instru-
ments. Darkness has no effect We
have no data as to the effects of roll
ing and pitching, but excessive vibra-
tion at high speed apparently pro-
duced no bad effect on the Instruments,
and we believe the working of the sys-
TEN VIII be very little affected by the
motion of the ship.
- The accuracy is good within the
working ranges. Cipher and important
signals may be repeated back to the
sending station if necessary to insure
absolute accuracy.
%. When ships are close together
tless than 400 YARDS adjustments (eas-t
lily made) of the instruments are nee
essary.
a. The greatest distances that mes
sases We're exchanged with the station
at Navesink was ls.5 miles. This dis
lance was exceeded considerably curing
the yacht races, when a more efficient
set OF Instruments was Installed there.
- The best location of instruments
would be below, we'll protected. in easy
communication with the commanding
| officer.
&c. The spark of the sending coil or of
| a considerable leak due to faulty insul-
alton of the sending wire would be suf-
lhcient TO ignite an inhammable mixture
of gas or other easily lighted matter,
/ but with the direct lead Through air
space If possible) and the high insula-
ton necessary for good work no danger
OF fire need be unprecedented.
-. When two transmitters are send
| ing at the same time. all the receiving
| wires within range receive the impulses
from transmitters, and the tapes, al
shough unreadabe, show unmistaka bly,
that such double sending is taking
! place.
IS. In every case. under a great vari-
/ ~ of conditions. the attempted inter-
| terence was complete. Mr.. Marconi. all
though he stated to the board before
these Attempts We're made that he could
prevent Interference, never explained
now nor made any attempt to demon-
4 strate that 1t could be done.
~ Range OF signalling Between
large ships Cheights of masts 100 and
4 40 feet above the quarterback the
4 rangegis al least thirty-fiye miles at sea
and sixteen and fve-tenths miles or less
/ When tall buildings of steel frames in
4 terfers. Between a large ship theight
iof mast 140 feeD and a torpedo boat
4 theteht of mast forty-five feet), across
olan water signals can be read up to
4 seven miles on the torpedo boat and
eight and five-tenths miles on the ship
4 communication might be interrupted
4 altogether when tall buildings of iron
a framing interviewed.
10 The rapidly is not greater thar
A twelve words per minute for skilled
operators
III. The shock from the sending col
of wire may be quite severe and even
dangerous to a person with a weak
heart No fatal accidents have been re-
corded.
~. The liability to accident from
lightning has not been ascertained.
"13 The sending apparatus and wire
would injuriously affect the compass u
placed near it. The exact distance il
, not known and should be determined b,
, experiment.
IA. The system is adapted for use OF
all vessels of the navy. including tor
pedo boats and small vessels, as pa
trolls, scouts and dispatch boats. but \
lis impracticable in small boat.
:. "15. For landing parties the oni!
! feasible method of use would be t,
! erect pole on shore and then com
! municate with the ship.
10 The system could be adapted Il
5 the Geographic determination of differ
5 ences of longitude in surveying.
3 The board respectfully recommend
!. that the system be given a trial in tn
navy"
The only weak feature of Maroon
: system, from the above report, appear
e to be the opportunity for interference
: This feature was predicted few day
n ago, and it is known that Marconi ac
y knowledged his disadvantage owing t
: incompetent apparatus. Marconi say
: he can practically remedy this weak
: ness when he has his full and regula
equipment at hand.
: All in all the findings of the speca
t Investigating board must be regarde
/ as amounting to hearty endorsement
v of the new system. There is no ques
a ton, in the light of this report, that tn
s United States, which has just given tn
world the only successful submarin
J. boat in operation. will render its nav
# well-nigh invincible by the incorpora
ton of wireless telegraphy. Congress
n to nj th