The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-07-16
BRITISH SUBSIDRE
MARCONI IN MILLIONS
Wireless Company to install Plant
Here Also Working for
Great Britain.

Having an enormous subsidy OF $S,-
100000 from the British government,
the Mareoni Company, which is about
to install one of its wireless stations on
this island, is preparing to encircle
the globe with wireless system, fur.
Their helped out by 100000 subsidy
from Australia. The particulars of the
agreement between the British govern
ment and the Marconi Company came
out during the recent session of the
convention held in London by represen-
tatives of the various European govern
ments to- deal with the international
aspects of wireless.
Britain like other European countries
regards wireless as great instrument
of war and the agreement with the
Marconi Company has been made with
this as the leading thought. 1t pro.
vides that the British government sup
ply Marconi Company with $3,000,000
with which to build FIVE great wireless
stations. Australia is to supply $780,.
900 for another station and the six are
to form wireless circuit around tho
globe at known points.
One station is to be in England; one
in Australia; one in India aud fourth
at Port Said. The other two, it is pre-.
sumcd, will be in South Africa and at
Hongkong. There is already station
at Glace Bay. 1t is estimated that if
the work is begun Immediately the sta.
tions will be finished in year and that
! Britain will then have circuit of COM
munication around the earth in place of
cables.
Enormous Advantages.
The advantages of such system,
in the event of war, are enormous. Ii
has long been pointed out by naval
experts that in case of war belliger-
ents will at once proceed to drag the
ocean bed for cable landings in the
enemy's country and thus cut off COM
munication. Although one or two
warsbips might be lost in such an OPP
Grafton, the gain would far oyerset
the sacrifice, while for England to be
cut off from communication with
distant parts of the Empire would be
disastrous. 1t is also pointed out by
naval men that the majority of cable
landings in Europe are owned in France,
but it is believed the wireless system
to be adopted will do away with this
and it is as an instrument of war that
the British government is adopting
wireless.
Each station will be separate en-.
! tity containing all the apparatus, boil
ers, engines, dynamos, etc. necessary
for developing wireless communication.
Each station is to be built as fortress,
capable of successful defense. While
/ the stations are to be built by the Mar
conf Company, they will be the proper
ty of the government. When completed
and ready for service the Marconi in
| terest ceases.
In Time of Peace.
The 100000 supplied by the gov
eminent will pay only for the wireless
installations. The ground and build
ings and everything except that which
relates solely to wireless communica-
ton will be furnished by the govern
ment. From this will be seen the power
and completeness of the equipment
planned and from this also will be
seen the reliance which Britain is pre-
pared to place in wireless as an instru-
ment of war. Though the primary pur-
pose of the stations is that Of national
defense, they will be used for CONNER.
cial business and be in time of peace
as in time of war, solely under gov
ernment control The British govern
ment owns all the country's telegraph
| and telephone systems and will now
also own its round-the-world commune
! cation. This is the reasOn-the govern
ment mOnopoly-that the wireless con
vention still finds itself helpless to
make rules and regulations for com
mereial wireless. 1t was believed that
a knowledge of the provisions Of the
British government Is agreement with
the Marconi Company would simplify
he question of commercial rules, but
despite this, it still appears that the
convention will adjourn with nothing
lone to regulate commercially the wire
less business.
Conventions Difficulties.
The traffic agreement between the
Marconi Company and the government
will not change the situation. Although
wireless is to be extended as a world
competitor to the cable in business,
| privately owned wireless companies
must be nursed and pampered, not regu-
lated into bankruptcy and not permit.
ted to go through the history of or.
ganization and reorganization and the
| NlcarlOus making and breaking of mil
lionaires that is the story of railroads.
In particular, too, the convention will
not attempt to regulate the cost of
wireless messages.
The convention finds itself confront
ed by situation in which wireless is
still far from being a commercial sue.
cess, owing to failure of all efforts
to find means of preventing the tap.
ping of messages, also the inability
to devise a means of preventing the
various stations from interfering with
one another, while sending or reeeiv.
ing messages. 1t is also found that
the initial cost of installing station
and the expense Of its upkeep and
operation increase, in a geometrical
ratio, with the power of the station.
The convention therefore has the diff,
fieult task of seeking TO make proper
rules for the commercial use of wire.
laaa trftflaut Al a.