Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-30

cessfully carried on In the naval SER
vice for distance OF 225 miles, and
messages have been overheard by sta
lions at distance of over 400 miles.
But short time ago the commander
of fleet was able to communicate d.
rectly with vessels at no greater dis
lance than five miles, the distance at
which signals may be read with reli-
ability. One officer is now assigned
especially to the Bureau of Equipment
to give wireless installation his special
attention. That officer at present Is
Lieut., S. S. Robinson, whose expert
knowledge of wireless qualities him
for the work.
All the newer ships of the navy have
been equipped with wireless appar-
atus, while the work Of installation
on the older ships of the navy has
been in steady progress, so that in
short time all the larger vessels of the
navy, at least, will be fitted out with
the apparatus now In use.
A most interesting project Is that
which contemplates connecting New
Orleans with the Isthmus of Panama
by wireless. This will necessltate the
erection of two powerful stations at
New Orleans and Colon. New Orleans
was selected because there Is a clear
seaway between the two points. The
distance Is about 400 miles. and mes
snges sent from one to the other vii,
be flashed all the way across the Gulf
of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Ne
gotiations are now pending for the
necessary apparatus. Every confidence
is felt In the success Of the project.
The frst message to be sent to the
department at Washington from ship
ut sea came from the cruiser Colorado.
She was coming up the coast, and
when 100 miles south of the lightshlp
ut Nantucket, her captain sent mes
sage directed to the department an
nounclng his position. 1t went by
wireless to Nantucket, and from there
to Washington over land lines. This
illustrates the possibilities Of commu-
nication between the naval authorities
at Washington and ships Off the coast
at distances which could not be
reached very few years ago A pc
culinr incident occurred in connection
with the Colorado's message. The
operator of the wireless station at the
Washington Navy Yard heard the mes
sage going from the Colorado to the
| lightship and telephoned the fact to
the department
| When the Dolphin started for
Charleston recently to take the Sacre-
tary Of the Navy, then -Ir. Morton, and
party from the latter place to Porto
Rico, the department received re-
port after her departure that wreck
lay in her course. A wireless message
from Cape Henry ordered sent by the
department was received by the Dol
phin apprislng her of the danger, thus
putting her on the lookout.
The advantages of wireless have
been demonstrated in the maneuvers
Of the North Atlantic fleet, when or
ders were sent to vessels Of the COM
mand that had gotten far beyond sig
mailing distance. AS the fleet was com.
ing north one Of the vessels picked up
| ny NilSicSS the UultleSllp lllltlO.S,
which was outside the Virginia capes,
and an extensive exchange of messages
was carried on, the ships being 100
miles apart.
Some interesting reports have come
tcthe department from the Washington
Navy Yard. The operator there has
overheard messages being sent from
Cape Cod for the benefit Of ships at
sea, and has overheard communica.
tons passing between Boston AMI
nearby points. These Instances now
attract but little attention from the ex.
perts at the department because they
expect such things to be done and ex,
pect even greater things from the
wireless system now being established
by the navy. The wonder of naval
officers now is: How did they ever
get along without wireless?