The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-15
THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
How Foreign Navics Are Utilizing
tko N.x~, UNIs,nrerr

the New DiscOvery.
The adoption of the system of wireless
telegraphy as a valuable acquisition to
the signaling devices already in use In
the navy, is the subject of an interesting
report made by Lieut.. II. L. de Steiguer,
United States Navy, to Captain Sigsbee.
Chief of the Naval Bureau Of Intelligence.
Exhaustive investigations have shown that
the navies of other powers are far ad-
vanced in the practical use Of the new
discovery, and recommendations are made
that all naval vessels laid down in future
contain provisions for the installment Of
the necessary apparatus and wiring where
1t will be free from disturbances as far
as practicable. 1t is claimed that Mar
coni's invention has long ago passed the
experimental stage. and is destined to be
the means of future communication be-
tween naval vessels while at sea.
Attention is called to the fact that while
the United States naval officials have been
comparatively idle, France has equipped
her Mediterranean squadron with outfits
and has begun the work Of supplying
every fortress with the necessary appa-
ratus Russia has fitted out her navy
with the Popoff system. The German
navy has adopted the Marconi system.
The vessels of the British Channel fleet
have had the latter apparatus installed
and the North German Lloyds Company
is fitting all of its vessels with the de-
sirable means of communication.
Probably the most startling statement
in the report comes from an account OF
the experiments in the Germany navy,
when it was demonstrated that the spark
telegraphy is so powerful, even at dis
lance of several miles. that were vessel
of hostile fleet to have carbons laying
anywhere about the powder supplies, and
were these carbons to become attached
in any manner to the steel masts or to
steel arms in the open air, the vessel
could be blown out of the water by the
mere application OF the Marconi sending
apparatus on any distant ship or fortress.
In speaking of this the report says:
ITO cause the explosion Of the ammuni-
ton room of a hostile ship by such long
distance effects does not therefore, appear
an insolvable problem. Only the enemy
would have to be kind enough TO place
| pieces of carbon among their powder sup
plies and connect them with long receiving
arms in the open air. However. for the
| formation of sparkling On board ship this
| Jest assumes more serious meaning. 1t is
| by no means impossible for electric light
wires to play the part of receiving wires IN
| some undesirable manner. II at some spot
| they should be too near each other and
at the same time imperfectly insulated,
| even the most Insignificant sparkling may
| cause a perfect short-circuiting of the
| wires. If the installation is otherwise per-
feet no harm will be done except the burn
| ;nu ouf nft ba cafaty f,sos This was what
happened on board II. NJ S. Friedrich Carl.
| In any event, this circumstance must be
| taken into consideration in installations for
| spark telegraphy on board ship. and care
| full examination Of the wiring from this
| point of view is necessary. The arma-
| lures of dynamos on board may also be
! broken by such sparkling: they must there
fore be fitted with lightning protectors.
| The ammunition rooms are sufficiently
protected by being entirely lined with met
| al, and, as far as l am aware, electric light
wires are not allowed to b. passed through
| them
OF the advantages obtained by the use Of
| the system at sea the report states that
| with the same installations FIVE to ten times
| longer distances can be overcome on the
sea than on the land. The reasons given
for this are the peculiar plane effect Of the
| ocean and the ease with which the electric
\
| avoiding any disturbing influences. The
report continues as follows:
Another remarkable circumstance is to
be noted here. When we use vertical
| transmitting and receiving wires the cleo
| trio waves are polarized vertically. II
they encounter in their path another YER
| teal linear conductor OF corresponding
! extent they remain clinging to it. so to
speak, and generate in it a pulsatipg al
| terTating current. / can easily convince
you of this by an experiment
1T will now be understood why any
linear elevations, such as trees masts, flag
poles, chimneys. and steeples interfere SO
much with spark telegraphy. Telegraph
ing across large city. unless balloons
can be used for carrying long wires. is
fraught with enormous difficulties.
But dampness also plays a part. On
| the sea neither fog nor rain are of dis
| turbing influence On the land il is diff
ferent. Trees. masts. and buildings are
semi-conductors under ordinary circum-
stances. When in a damp state. and still
! more when soaked through. their conduc-
tive power increases. They suck in the
electric waves greedily and invite them
TO remain On the sea such obstacles do
not have to be reekoned with. Even in
a crowded harbor the masts of ships are
still far enough apart not to interfere Sc
riously with electric radiation.
But it is different with the masts
shrouds and cables of the ships directly
concerned. These do constitute serious
obstacles. Each ship must be considered
Il distinct individual from this point OF
view. Devices which on board of one shiT
had proved excellent, show less favorable
results on board of others; but it is not
possible to find at once sufficient reasons
for this circumstance. Experience must
here come to our aid: but experience can
only be gained from continuous use.
The installations at present set up on
board German war ships can. of course.
not be publicly discussed. and l am not
at liberty to express any opinion as to
| service regulations concerning spark tel
| egraphy and the tactical employment of
the same but | may perhaps be permitted
! to state what has struck me as par icu-
larry important and favorable in connec-
tion with spark telegraphy, and that is
the assurance and precision with which
| the installations were served by the crews
of our very efficient engine personnel.
| want to lay special stress on this. be-
cause we frequently hear doubt ox.ressel
on this point There is an impression
prevalent that it is a question OF difficult
| physical apparatus which scien lists alOn7
can understand and handle. That is not
, the case. The chief mates who took part
| in the experiments had a good knowledge
of the scientific working of the instru-
ments and would often ask questions OF
my assistant and myself which lett moth
, ing to be desired in the way Of theron. h.
ness and intelligence: unfortunateiy, We
could not always answer them as intelli-
ha WI irt