Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-08
.SAYV|LLE STATION
TAKEN OVER BY US.
German Wireless Plant Put
Under Control of This Gov
ernment Today.
NO CHANGES so FAR AS
PUBLIC is CONCERNED
Secretary Daniels Action Under
Executive Order Because of Al
legged Violations of Neutrality.

today took over the Sayville, l.. |.
wireless station, the only remain
ing privately operated direct
means of communication between
the United States and Germany
This was done by the Navy De
partment at the solicitation of the
Commerce Department to pre-
serve the neutrality of the United
States.
Secretary Redheld had pointed
out that the plant was entirely
G. German-owned, erected since the
beginning OF the war. communi-
Gates with stations in Germany
under government control and
that a German captain OF marines
i'll the German navy had been as
signed by the German govern
ment to conduct experiments
there.
1t was believed by prominent
government officials that mes
sages from the Sayville plant
could be transmitted to German
submarines, directing their opera
tions, which would be in violation
of the neutrality OF the United
States.
Secretary Daniels announced
that Capt. Bullard, in charge OF
the naval radio, had gone to take
over tie station, and would con-
tinue its operation with naval
forces.
Secretary Daniels issued this state
ment:
Secretary Daniels Statement.
1T is understood that the Sayyille
radio station had made application to
the Secretary of Commerce for a
license. The Secretary of Commerce
so
informed the Secretary of the NAVY.
who. after conference, directed Capt.
Bullard. as the expert of the DEPART
ment. to take over and operate the
station.
Lieut.. George r. Clark will be in
control of the station. Capt. Bullard
reached New York this morning and
VIII confer with the owners o; the
station In all that relates to the de-
tails of the operation of the station
fractlcaiiy the same rules and regu-
latlons as are now applicable to
Iuckerton will be put in operation at
Savville."
There will be no change so far as the
pubic Is concerned. Messages will be
accepted as heretofore The only dif
ference viii be that naval Operators
| instead of commercial employees viii
man the keys. The charges collected
by the navy will be paid to the own
ing company.
! Today's action, which uas t.,,.,, ,s..
an executive order issued by Preside nt
wilson giving the navy authority to take
over one OF more stations, was deemed
necessary because of alleged violations of
heu''ahty by the companys operators.
| IL mas been charged that when the
| navy censors had left the wireless
| room Tor a minute or two unneutr,I
! messages mad been sent. and that only
ny oiii'"it ana trying supervision,
! could neutra,it% be strictly preserv.J
Secretary Redfield's Report.
f, Secretary R.edfieli IN n letter 70 O..
retary Larins, recommending tha, The
| United States take over the savvil,e
station, said investigation had shown
j that the new sending station, for which
license was asked had all been erect
/ ell since the beginning of the war. with
apparatus made in Germany; that the
| company was entirely German owned.
! wori.iug with stations in Germany un-
! der government control. and that Prof
J. Zenneck, a captain OF marines of the
| German navy and wireless expert. had
been assigned by the German govern
ment to conduct experiments there.
TO grant Il license to such n station
! Secretary Eedfield said the department
had concluded would be an unneutral
| act.
/ Secretary Redfeld pointed out that
the Atlantic Communication Company
| owners of the Sayville station, Herman
! a. Metz, president. and DIR. Karl G..
Frank. secretary and treasurer. was
owned by the Telefunken Company of
Germany. which is itself owned by the
| Siemeus s, Halske Company and the
i AlleRemeine ElektriZitats tiesellschaft
! of Germany, and that practically all of
IHe StoCh, Sutii as WOulu permit Mr..
! Metz 10 be president of the Atlantic
company, was owned by German citi-
zsns.
| Germany Controls Receiving Points.
| Secretary Eedfeld's letter also re-
vealed that the Sayville, station is in
communication with stations in Ger
many, which either are under control
| of German military authorities or the
imperial German post office. one hav-
| ing control of military features and
the other the commercial business.
IL also is pointed out that the Mar
conf Wireless Company is not operating
ITS transatlantic station in connection
with British stations because they are
controlled by the British government mt
and 1t was deemed unneutral to oper-
ate them from this country.
Secretary Redfeld yesterday wrote
to the Atlantic Communication Com
pany denying either a permanent or
temporary license to the new plant at
Sayville, and today he forwarded to
the company an announcement that the
| navy, would Immediately take over the
station and operate it for commercial
purposes.
The station for which license was
as entirely new since the beginning of
the war. and held not to be the same
as the old sending station which had
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