The Washington times., 1907-08-14
WIRELESS SYSTEM
PLANNED TO COVER
HALF OF WORLD
Strike of TelegrapherS
Prompts Armyand Navy
to Extend Work.
Fleets and Armies Can
Be Directed Without
Wires.

Oficials OF the Navy Department ind
much satisfaction in the development Of
the wireless telegraph communication 10
such a general extent now that big
strike OF telegraph operators is on. BY
the wireless, the navy viii not be seri-
ously Handicapped I'm the dispatch Of
messages. even II the commercial lines
should be almost entirely tied up.
The strike. however. has served 10 en-
phssize to both army and navy officials
toe necessity for a complete and salts
factory wireless system IN both branches
OF the service. and already the Bureau
Of Equipment has taken up the wireless
problems with renewed energy. and the
signal office OF the War Department has
been led 10 figure on a scheme for gen
eraI wireless equipment Of the army in
the event of a general tie-up. or in case
Of military operations.
When Wireless Is Needed.
The day Of the wireless telegraph in
both army and navy has come, it is
pointed out by many army officers. The
present situation only suggests what an
embarrassment would develop in case
strike OF national magnitude should
come on the eve of or during a possible
military and naval conflict. at home or
abroad. 1t is when the telegraph and
cable wires fail that the wireless Is ex-
pected to prove its real worth
The navy already is so well equipped
that the entire Atlantic fleet could be
directed from the Navy Department,
and by forming a chain of ships via
Panama. the entire Pacific feet. includ-
Ing the squadrons on the American and
Asiatic side, also could be in communi-
cation with Washington.
Spurred TO renewed activity by Tho
present strike Of operators the Eot,ip-
ment Bureau Of the navy will at once
set about Installing wireless apparatus
On number Of cruisers and gunboats
OF both fleets that are not already thts
equipped Every battleship and all The
newer cruisers and many OF tho oider
ones, and some OF the gtnboats arc
equipped. and 1t is expected TO be only
q matter Of a few weeks when every
formidable fighting ship of the navy.
as well as the flagship Of every torpedo
fotilla Will have a wireless apparatus.
Steps also viii be taken to perfect INC
system at the different navy yards
on both coasts. For nearly two years
Il has been possible TO exchange mes
sages satisfactorily from Portland, Me.
10 Colon and Guantanamo, in relays
Army Equips Transports.
The Signal Corps Of the army already
has begun the installation Of wireless
on. army transports. with marked sue
cess. Within the last week numerous
messages have been exchanged be
tween transports passing on the Pa
cifc. a distance Of COO miles having been
covered at a time. The army will not
Cnly proceed 20 equip every transport.
but IL IS expected that the joint board
Of the army and navy Will. acting on
suggestions made by equipment and sig
raj officers. recommend. within a few
days, cooperation between the army and
navy In perfecting the wireless system.
This scheme includes the establishment
az station at Havana which would op-
crate between Guantanamo and Key
West and with warships and trans
ports. a wireless station at each end
Of the Panama canal, and another al
some point up the Pacific coast, prob
ably at Magdalena bay. Stations al
ready have been decided upon by the
ravy at San Diego and Santa Barbara.
and there are already stations at Mare
Island and the Bremerton navy yard.
War Department officials already have
set TO work figuring on the establish
ment Of a chain OF wireless stations
across the continent. from Washington
70 army posts at Governors Island and
On up East. and at the more important
army posts through the West to the
Preside. With this system established,
the department in Washington would
not only be able TO direct any desired
movement Of troops without the use Of
wires. but it would be possible for the
navy to keep in touch with Mare Is
land and the Pacific fleet.