The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-02

Daniels announcing the result to-
night, predicted that further develop
ment Of wireless telephony would
make great changes in long distance
communication both for military and
naval sercice and commercial usage.
Successful operation of a device for
automatically transferring to the ra-
dio telephone conversations originat-
ing on wire circuits also was accom-
plished. President Theodore N. Vail
and other officials of the American
Telephone & Telegraph company at
New York talked easily with the
Mare Island station, the conversation
travelling over an ordinay metallic
line from New York to Arlington and
thence by radio across the continent.
"The fact that the voices can be
started on a land wire and automati-
cally transmitted to voice radio
transmitter," said Secretary Daniels,
holds out hope that persons inland
should readily be put in touch by tel
ephone with others at sea through
some central transmitting station"
The navy departments formal an
nouncement follows:
Secretary Daniels is pleased to an
nounce the successful outcome Of ex-
periments which have been carried
on for the last few months by. the
American Telephone & Telegraph
company and Western Electric COM
pany in cooperation with radio sta
tions under jurisdiction Of the navy
department by which long distance
wireless telephony has been made
possible.
To-day, September 20, speech was
successfully transmitted from the Ar
lington radio station to the radio sta
ton at Mare Island, Cal. and there
successfully received, thus making
possible conversation without wires
over distance of approximately $500
miles. the first time this great dis
tance has been covered by wireless
telephony. In the first experiments
today the voice was successfully trans
mitted by radio to Mare Island from
Arlington, answers and communica-
tions being made over the trans-con-
tinental land telephone line. This was
lichn
presence Of officials and engineers Of
the Western Electric company, a rep
resentative Of the signal corps of the
army. representatives Of the techni-
cal and operation departments Of the
navy department and a few other in
terested parties.
After this successful demonstra-
tion, conversation originating in New
York was transmitted over the land
line to Arlington, there automatical-
ly connected to the radio transmitter
which carried the voice to Mare Is
land, where 1t was clearly and dis
tinctly received. To-.
The conversation was carried on
by the president of the American Tel
epnone and Telegraph company, Mr..
Vail, the vice president, Mr.. Bethel,
and Mr.. Waterbury. one Of the di-
rectors, while at Mare Island were Of
ficials of the navy department.; John
j. Carty, chief engineer Of the tele-
phone company. and representatives
OF the Western Electric company.
Every official taking part in this dem
onstration is enthusiastic of the re-
suits, and the possibility of develop
ing the system as an extension Of the
telephone system to ships at sea.
"The use of such long distance wire
less telephone communication in naval
or military operations is still in an
undeveloped state, but it is expected
valuable use can be made of this
wonderful demonstration. But aside
from such considerations the depart !
ment and its officials may we'll feel.
proud that they have been interested
cooperators in the first practical de-
velopment OF this latest march in the
wonderful science OF radio communi-
cation"