The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-11-20

Very few people realize the great i'm
portance of wireless telegraphy In time
OF war or strained relations-for in
stance, feet of battleships at sea
while their country is at war with an
other power. Each ship I'm that feet
has It's wireless installation. adjusted
50 that they can send and receive sig
mails and messages to other squadrons
at sea or In harbOr and to stations
ashore. One ship Of that fleet Is al
ready in direct touch with the navy de-
partment. The chance OF interference
from an enemy's ship Is reduced SO as
to be almost not worth counting. Each
some station ashore or for cruiser
squadron or hotilla or torpedo boat de-
stroyers. All foreign intelligence and
the movements of foreign ships go to
the capital by telegraph, cablegram
and wireless from different parts OF
the world. and from thence 1t is trans
mitted to the admiral In charge Of the
feet. who directs his ship accordingly.
The whole safety of battle fleet
depends on wireless telegraphy In time
Of war.
When a number Of battleships are
steaming along, perhaps looking for
the enemy, 1t would not do for them
TO run into superior number OF the
enemy's battleships. To guard against
this great number Of cruisers are
sont mt obood md cprood n num har
Of miles across. The duty OF these
ships Is TO keep thorough lookout
and report to the ship In the battle
feet looking out on their particular
zone. This ship In turn reports by
semaphore or Morse lamp TO the ad-
miral Of the battle fleet. The cruisers
are sometimes assisted by torpedo
boat destroyers. Now. II thirty Of
these ships are used II will be readily
seen that the area of their vision is
enormous, and Ii would be almost i'm
possible for feet to pass unObserved.
Immediately any Of the ships sight
the enemy's squadron they would re-
port at once by wireless, stating the
Oumber OF ships sighted. with their
speed. latitude and longitude. etc. The
admiral would then give his orders
also by wireless. If the admiral de-
termines to attack he directs the cruis-
ers to steam mt full speed and take
refuge behind the battle feet.
Let us suppose we are reconnoiter'
Ing I'm hostile waters. The cruisers
are ordered to spread themselves out
In the vanguard Of the feet on look
out duty. They steam along without
lights Of any description. These great
vessels. invisible as the night can make
them. are brooding on the troubled wa
ters. Yet they are very alive. Cease
lessly they communicate one with an
other. for In each vessel. hidden as far
as possible from external view. Is the
sOundless and padded wireless room
Here the operator Is at work. the cleo
tric lamp glowing brilliantly above
him. but messenger enters with an
order from the commander. lmme-
diately as the handle Of the door is
touched and pulled open by the entrant
the lights go out. and pitch darkness
prevails until once again the door Is
closed behind him and automatically
the lights are switched on. That Is
part of the secrecy which prevails on
q battleship In time of war.
The men on lookout duties are sta
toned In various parts throughout the
cruiser. Their duty Is to keep their
eyes open. as there Is always chance
that one Of the enemy's destroyers may
come rushing along at speed Of some
thirty miles an hour. shoot torpedo
into the ship and get away unscathed.
At the best of times II takes cunning
gunnery to strike vessel going at
this speed. but in the darkness possi-
bilities Of the marauder's escape are
increased tenfold. and only the eyes OF
the crew and watchers can, as far as
possible. safeguard mishap. AS soon
as anything is sighted 1t is reported to
the battle feet This Is done by the
wireless, and the operator Is compel
led to work at high pressure, for he has
to read every message cruiser sends,
inform his captain and himself get In
tOuCu VIII tiit uttt III Ills OuNCi ShVuiu
desire to send a reply. Then there is
the admiral Of teet to be considered.
The operator must keep a good lookout
In case some battle order should be
transmitted from this important quar-
ter.
All this time. remember. the ship is
cruising at imminent risk not only
hom the actual attacks OF a secret en-
tmy. but from the danger of floating
mines and even aerial attack II re-
quires no little personal courage. there
fore. for the operator TO remain In that
Closed wireless cabin. whence. should
disaster occur. there Is no chance of
escape. and all the time he must keep
his head and send and receive mes
Rages with much nonchalance as
though he were seated at home i'm the
security of his own little den. But
quiet heroism is one Of the traditions
of wireless service. Never yet has an
operator been found wanting. Boston
Transcript.
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