The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-09-13

est possible distances at which wire
less messages may be sent.
A chain of stations extending from
Cape Elizabeth, Me, to the Caribbean
is already In practical operation; also
stations on the Pacific coast and at
Cavite in the far away Philippines. 1t
Is the purpose, too, of the bureau ulti-
mately to make 1t possible for a war
ship anywhere In the West Indies to
be within telegraphlc communication
with home station, which means with
Washington.
The equipment now being installed
generally permits of communication
with dependable reliability between
warships at sea and between ships and
shore for distance of 1876 miles.
while communications have been sue
cessfully carried on in the naval ser
vice for distance of 225 miles, and
messages have been overheard by sta
tons at a 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
tance 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 Ia
Lieut.. 8. 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 installat ton
on the older ships of the navy has
been in steady progress, 10 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 necessitate the
erection Of two powerful stations at
New Orleans and Colon. New Orleans
was selected because there IL a clear
seaway between the two points. The
distance IL about ] 400 miles, and mes.
sages sent from one to the other will
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
| II felt I'm the success of the project.
The first message to be sent to the
department at Washington from a SHY
at sea came from the cruiser Colorado
She was coming up the coast, and
| when 100 miles south of the lightship
at Nantucket. her captain sent mes.
sage directed to the department an.
nouncing 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 OF the coast
at distances which could not be
reached 4 very few years ago. A Pc
culiar 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 u
tho department.
When the Dolphin started n:
Charleston recently to take the Sscre
tary Of the Navy. then ar. Morton. and
q party from the latter place to Portt
Rico, the department received q 70
port after her departure that wreci
lay in her course. A wireless message
from Cape Henry ordered sent by th'
department was received by the Dol
phin appFising her Of the danger. thu
putting her on the lookout.
The advantages OF wireless hav'
bssn demonstrated In the maneuvsr
Of the North Atlantic feet, when or
dsrs were ssnt to vessels Of the com
mand that had gotten far beyond Gig
mailing distance. A. the fieet was com
ing north one Of the vessels picked VI
lhy w1relees the battlsshiD Illinoia
a9a- L.