The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-11

modification OF the Morse telegrap
lalphahet, The telegraph alphahe
used by the Russians contains thlrt
characters; that OF the Japanese
said to contain forty characters. hill
the American Morse contains bu
Itwenty-slx characters. But, apar
from the difference IN the alphabets
the belligerents use cipher codes
(which render their communication
anlntelllgible to outsiders, even If the!
were otherwise readable.
The De Forest wireless station II
North China from which the wireless,
war news IL cabled TO Europe IL sit
uaied on cliff somewhat east OF Wei.
haiwei. The height OF the vertical
wire used is about l5O feet, which Ii
also the height OF the station above
sea level The Chinese steamship Hal,
num- which was chartered by the Lon
don Times for newsgathering by wire
less telegraphy, has vertical wire
about ninety-six feet high. The trans
mitting and receiving apparatus en-
pioyed at weihaiwei and on the Hal
mum are practically identical and the
operating rooms virtually correspond
TO those OF the Panama and Port
Limon stations. Messages were freely
sent to and from the boat al distances
ranging from ten 10 one hundred and
flfty miles. The signals could be
heard at greater distances from the
boat to the shore than contrawlse. the
rolling OF the boat at times Interfer-
Ing with the reception OF signals. Al
the time of Russia's announcement
that correspondents employing wire.
less telegraphy In the war zone would
be treated as spies, the Haimun was
on the corean coast and those on
board were promptly informed OF the
interesting situation BY wireless seleg- |
'aphy.
This vessel has had several Interest,"
ng experiences. One day last April.
when the Haimun was within twelve
niles OF Port Arthur and eighty i've
niles from Weihalwei. on the lookout
or war news. she was held up by
hot across her bows from the Russian
'arship Bayan. Not knowing what
night happen, Captain James. the cor.
espondent OF the London Times on the
iaimun. sent wireless dispatch 10
Veihaiwel, notifying that station that
hey were about to be boarded by OH.
ers OF the Russian battleship Bayan.
II you do not hear from us IN three
ours" said the message. notify COM
llssioner, captain OF British gunboat
eviathan and London Times There
as some natural anxiety TO know II
le message had been received. but
'esently all anxiety WIS relieved By
lie welcome signal 80. X" from the
'eihaiwel operator. In short time
ply came stating that the commits I
oner and the commander OF the Brit 8
b feet at Weihaiwei had been prop. !
~ notified and that from the window :"
the operating room II could be seen
at the fleet was getting up steam 1
nd that" added the operator. lis no : !.
cam" Two Russian officers boarded
e Haimun, inspected the wireless APP =
Lratus and took a copy OF the last :
essage sent. In the midst OF their In :"
ection the officers were hurriedly re-
He'd to the Bayan by apparently ex- "
ted signals from that ship. which i'm ' '
ediately returned TO Port Arthur. II ?
IS surmised by those on the HaImun. :"
an explanation OF their hasty re-
rr, that the Russians had detected
panese wireless signals. on the other "
nd, II Is quite possible that the Ba- ! !
ms wireless operator may also have
ecived the messages sent from the 4
aimun and from Weihaiwei relative
the boarding OF the Haimun. and
is, for prudential reasons, may have
the hasty recall Of the
arding officers. On this point II may
noted that while the ether itself
ansmits all forms OF electric waves
1t is quite within the prob
ilities that some characteristic In the
ethod of transmission, or some pe-
liarity OF code used by one vessel or 3
ct, might after little experience be
ickiy recognized by other fleets and
this way the presence Of friend or
emy could be recognized without
yular message. - From Wireless
biography Of Today" by william
aver, Jr.. in the American Monthly
view of Reviews for August. i
A Real cotiIIion Leader.