The Washington herald., 1914-05-21
WIRELESS GREAT
BENEFIT TOMMY
Marconis s ystem on Ships
Played BIG PaIt IN Gapt,ife
Of Vera Cru. -,
ELIMINATES TENSION
Oheen Compare de Present Method
Of Communieadon with 0beoleae
Plans of the Past. {

Outside Of onciai circles lifoe con-
sidkrztion IL giveu to .the great changes
that have been efecfed In. naval
maneuvers during the spast !. ten years
through the advent rof the wireless
telegraph The puhlr generally has come
no regard IL as a more br iess common
4 place method Of scoramunicat tion. The
most recent illustration of its great tai-
ne in naval operations was given at
Vera Cruz. 'ss1 -
Our navy has been notable for ms
eficient service. but its promptness in
action was never brought SO strikingly
to the attention of the public as at
the seizure and occupation of Vera
Cruz. Secretary of the Navy Daniels
was moved to express publicly his graft
ncation over the brilliant performance Of
this feat. but he failed ito give rec
ognition to that instrument of the serv-
ice which led to its swift and workman
like accomplishment-the wireless tele-
graph
When the tension preceding the cap
ture of Vera Cruz was at its highest
the government learned that q large
consignment of arms and ammunition
was about te be landed at that port
by the German steamship Ypiranga- To
prevent these supplies falling into the
hands of the beiligerent Mexicans orders
were flashed by wireless from Washing
ton to Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz,
instructing him to seize the custom
house where the cargo was to be dis
charged. Our naval forces Immediately
went into action, and the result is now
history. Through the wireless telegraph
our government as well as the general
public, were kept fully informed of the
progress Of events.
When peace overtures were made by
the diplomatic representatives of friendly
South American nations the wireless car
ried the orders to suspend active hos
tilities. Hundreds, perhaps thousands,
of lives were saved through the prompt
Transmission OF receipt of the orders to
cease ffghting that would have been
lost had the orders been transmitted
through the obsolete chanenls available
q few years ago, when they might have
been delayed for days.
Pending the outcome of mediation be-
tween the United States and Mexico the
wireless is carrying constant interchange
of orders and reports between Washing
ton. Vera Cruz and Tempico. If media
ton fails and hostilities be resumed, the
wireless will convey the orders that will
unleash the dogs of war.
A group of Navy Department officials
discussing the Mexican situation recantly,
recalled the troubled days of the Span
ish war and compared present conditions
with that time, when so much anxiety
prevailed owing to the absence of reliable
means of communication. For months
our coast cities were in a state of tur-
mol over the possibility of attack by
by the Spanish feet and our own ships,
cruising in Cuban waters, could com
municate with Washington only through
. slow and elaborate system Of dispatch
boats and coast signal stations. The
result of the battle OF Manila Bay was
not suthoritatively known in detail for
almost week after ii had been fought
and won. The details of the destruction
OF Cervere's squadron of the coast of
Cuba on July 4. 1898. did not reach US
until several days after the hattie
One need not be a naval strategist to
appreciate the great advantage Of in |
slant communication between the fleets |
and headquarters Its value is obvious. !
The beneht to the public of reliable in |
formation is hardly less so. as it elimi- |
mates uncertainty and the strained ten |
sion that attends absence Of authentic !
information at critical periods, the effect |
of which is reflected in disturbed securi- |
ties and commodities markets and is felt |
particularly by relatives-and friends of |
soldiers and sailors in active service.
All the warships in the United States /
ravy are equipped with the most mod |
ern wireless apparatus and schools for |
the training of operators have been es- |
the aim OF the Navy Department to |
maintain this branch of the service at |
the highest point Of efficiency