The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-13
WIRELESS FOR
EVERY VESSEL
ON THE SEAS
All Government Craft to
Be Equipped With the
Apparatus.

I steps are htiii6 lahCu bA NONri iltiicllL
officials 20 have every ship OF eonse-
quenee Of the War; Navy. and Treasury
| Department equipped with wireless
telegraphy as a preliminary step TO
bringing about the adoption Of the wire
less means OF communication on every
/ American merchant vessel. as safety
! equipment.
These steps are being taken at the
present time as a result or the West In-
dian steamer Ponce being lost for sew
! eral days with no means of commune
cation with the world. Had the ship
been equipped with the wireless sys-
TEN. distress signals could have been
I communicated 10 some other ship or port
AT once and aid could have been rem
uered soon.
Although the Ponce finally was towed
into port after having been missing
, nearly two weeks, with all well on
board. il is pointed out by the Govern
ment officials that as the ship Was prac-
tically helpless she might easily have
fallen prey TO a severe storm, with loss
OF life To her passengers.
Nays FefIecJ system
The navy was the first branch OF the
Government 20 adopt the wireless sys-
TEN. and, primarily. il was for the pur-
pose or war. The system IN use by the
navy has been perfected 10 such an eN-
tent that it holds the record FOR the
worlds long distance wireless messages.
Already il has been Of great service TO
the navy, important messages being sent
from one ship 10 another at sea. wrecks
and derelicts being reported.
Like vessels OF the navy, revenue cut
tiers make their way into different waters
or the globe. Secretary OF the Treasury
Shaw has taken the matter up and or
ders have been issued for the wireless
apparatus 10 be Installed on a number
Of the vessels as soon as practicable.
This is expected 10 be Of great service
when The ships are out on patrol duty.
In the case # the incident OF the fatal
Jaganese raid on the St Paul seal
rookeries last summer, the news could
have been communicated 10 Washington
nearly two weeks sooner than it did
reach here In a case Of possible for
eign complications it would be quite an
important thing 70 have the incident re-
ported here before it reached the capital
OF the foreign country.
The incident Of the transport Sheridan
going on the rocks of Honolulu last fan
has impressed the War Department Of
metals with the value Of wireless tsIeg-
raphy on the transports al sea. Had the
Sheridan being equipped with the appa-
ratus, aid might have been rushed 10 her
from Honolulu before her condition be-
came 50 serious. and before the storm
came up that threatened 10 dash her 10
pieces. This possibility would apply 10
number OF other transports that have
gone aground the past year. Upon the
recommendation Of Quartermass SEER GEN
eral Humphrey. the Signal Corps OF TIE
army is now preparing to equip three
of the transports now at home ports. on
both the Pacific and Atlantic
Must Be Equipped
Government officials do not seem 10
feel in duty bound to send their ships
out 20 sea in "a search Of several days
for a missing merchant ship. II ship
owners expect such aid, they hold.
'they should equip their vessels with
wireless. so as to better provide for the
safety or their ships and passengers.
II vessel calls FOR help and can give
her location, then any Government ship
would quickly be sent TO her rescue.
A number Of Congressman have called
at the War, Treasury, and Navy dv-
partment In regard 10 the question
% compelling merchant transportation
companies TO install the wireless appara-
tus as a part Of the vessels safety |
equipment. II is understood that secre-
tary OF Commerce and Labor Straus |
has been asked II il is not within the |
power OF the board OF supervising |
steamboat inspectors TO order such |
equipment. within the letter OF the pres |
ent Law providing for safety appliances. |
If it IL not, IL is likely that measure 1
to include sucn apparatus may be intro |
duced in Congress.