New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-30
MAYA WIRELESS EQUIPMENT.

The value to the navy of communication by
means of Hertz waves in time Of war having
been recognized the wisdom of providing the
necessary equipment while the nation still en-
joys peace becomes apparent. The installation
and of the requisite apparatus, while yet
there is no threat of hostilties. are as essential
to the highest degree of efficiency as is target
practice under the same conditions. Besides,
even while the country is friendly terms
with every other power, wireless teegraphy is
capable OF rendering useful service, since the
progress Of vessels during a cruise, the health
of the officers and men, and any casualty which
may have injured ships or armament can be
promptly reported.
a unique illustration of the utility of such
a system has been afforded during the last
few days. Probably for the first time in the
history of the United States its chief executive
has gone outside of the limits of the country
and vet in his absence 1t has been possible to
obtain assurances of his safety and comfort, to
send him the little he wanted, and to
reach him with personal messages from his
family. Much less solicitude regarding him has
been felt since his departure from the mouth
of the Mississippi last Friday morning than
would otherwise have been excited because he
has kept in comparatively close touch with the
world all the time.
One accidental feature Of this correspondence
dispatch from the West Virginia, meant for and
doubtless received another ship in the Gulf
of Mexico, was overheard at Washington, fully
nine hundred nautical miles away. At first the
occurrence does not appear to be remarkable
Communication has been carried on between
Poldhu, in England, and Gibraltar. which are
separated by an equally great distance. Again,
from Cornwall on one side of the Atlantic and
from Cape Breton on the other messages are
being sent daily to ships In midocean, and are
heard fifteen hundred or two thousand miles
off. In each Of these instances however the
transmitting plant is on land. and it has not
been considered practicable hitherto to provide
a ship with sending apparatus having any such
range. Yet the message picked up IL Wash
ington emanated from a floating station, not
from one on land. Ocean steamships plying
between European ports and New-York are
rarely able to transmit messages more than
100 or 200 miles. Perhaps the best record is
that made few weeks ago by tho Oceanic
when she reported herself at distance Of cit
miles If, now, a westward bound liner ap-
preaching Newfoundland were to signal her
presence to ST Johns. and her announcement
! was caught at Fire Island. parallel would be
afforded to the case in question.
The range Of successful transmission depends
on several things. For instance daylight I'M
| pedes the progress Of Hertz waves. Other In
fuences which are still less understood also in
| terfere. But for present purposes 1t is neces-
| sary only TO consider the apparatus ct the send
| Ing and receiving stations. At the former the
| most important thing is the amount of power
| utilized In generating the waves; and this Is
| the factor which makes the strongest appeal to
| the imagination Of the uninltiated 1t Is de-
| sirable, however. to remember that great diff
ferences exist in the constituencies of devices for
detecting ether waves The coherer which
| Marconf first employed has been discarded by
him because he has invented substitute which
is more susceptible. In fact, four or five re-
| ceiTins instruments, no two Of which work on