Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-28
The Telephone of the Sea.

While the art of wireless may be sal
to be still in its infancy. already in Its
practical application it is as indspensa-
BILE to the mariner as is the telephone to
those on shore, and it is certain that
eventually all ships that go to sea must
be equipped. Moreover. it may be con-
tidently predicted that in the early future
no vessel. in whatever seas she may be
sailing need be out of touch with any line
of communication that It may be deSira-
BILE to utilize.
With the increasing number of wireless
stations that are being established it be-
comes more and more apparent that reg
ulattons governing their establishment
and operation should be put in force. The
rules and regulations adopted by the in
ternational conference at Berlin in Octo-
Der. 1906. furnished the practical working
system for international radio-telegraphic
S is s bole he saga's
and it is hoped that it will be duly rati-
fed.
Wireless Telephony Unsatisfactory.
Wireless telephony has been tested on
board a number of ships, but as yet it has
not proved d valuable or satisfactory
means of communication. 1t is believed,
however, that at no late date telephone
communication between vessels will be
thoroughly reliable.
Interesting features of the past year in
wireless are the increase in message work
at all stations. the general increase in dis
tance of transmission and the decrease
of interruption due to static interference.
Numerous cases of transpacifc commu-
ncation have been reported. ships in the
vicinity of and wireless stations on the
Hawaiian Islands having exchanged mes
sages with Farallon Islands. California.
During the cruise of the Atlantic fleet
messages were received across Central
America, by Pensacola and Washington.
and by a system of relays the fleet was in
touch with Washington on the trip across
the Pacific practically at all times until
after New Zealand was reached.
Coal for the Battleship Fleet.
A total of $40. $50 tons of coal, costing.
including transportation, s., 1858 S24.3 SO, an
average of s61s per ton, was purchased
during the fiscal year for naval purposes.
The average cost of this coal, Admiral
CowIes says, is much in excess of that
for some years previous. That condition
is due primarily to the greater quantity
of coal shipped to lons-distance' ports,
principally for use of the battleShip fleet
on its long voyage. These shipments In
volved heavy transportation charges.
Furthermore the increase in the price of
coal purchased by ships cruising, princi-
pally in foreign waters, was consldera BILE.
Referring to the failure to secure suffi-
cient American golfers for the cruise of
the Atlantic fleet and the necessity Of
charterng foreign vessels for that pur-
pose. Admiral Cowles says:
Had foreign complications arisen. or
had a combination been effected between
foreign ShipoWners, our fleet might have
had TO remain lying helpless in some for
eign port.
Not Enough Golfers.
The GOLFERS now in service are not
only not sufficient in numbers to meet
the needs of the fleet but in carrying
capac city and steaminS radius are utterly
unsuitable for the purpose. 1t is just as
important for the efficiency CT the fleet
that the ships should possess means by
which they can promptly be supplied with
fuel as IL is that they should have suf-
ficient supply of ammunition, and the
bureau strongly recommends that imme-
date steps be taken TO supply an ade-
uuate number of GOLFERS for the navy.
OF these Golfers there should be at least
one for every two units, with sufficient
capacity for supplying four vessels
Navy Yard Expenditures.
The total expenditures at the Washing
ton navy yard for equipment during the
past year We're $24 967 mostly on account
of general maintenance. Admiral Cowles
says that with the exception of the coal
ing plan and the wireless telegraph in
stallation there are no facilities for equip
facture of signal outfits, necessary repairs
nd nth. work