The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

~ liz story Of the development, If wireless
communication in the United States
covers u span of only sixteen years.
When that story comes to bc written the
historian will find that the major portion " his
material AMI notes accumulated for the task
relates to the activities Of the navy, md that. In
this portion Of them, the figure Of Capt. William
II. q. Billiard. L. y. ~. is prominent.
For. Just ms the navy pioneered In wireless,
50. within the navy. Capt. Billiard was II leader
If the pioneers.
II really was seventeen years ago that Capt.
Bullarl. then n young naval lieutenant. fresh
from Spanish. American war service. wis at.
imctel by the new subject. During his student
days at Annapolis electricity and electrical en-
einccriug had attracted him. These studies he
carried on further following graduation. lie
became known as one Of the electrical shops Of
the navy.
Wireless appealed to him. both Us an electrical
engineer nnd us a military officer. With his
knowledge If electricity the military possibilities
that lay In wireless were readily apparent. So
he threw himself into the subject.
lie Is now-,nd has been ever since the posi-
ton was established three years ngo-suisrin-
tendcnt of the navy radio service. In that capa.
city he Is charged with the direction If the
most extensive wireless service In the world
today. More than fifty shore stations. approx.
mately 80 ship stations and about $50 navy
radio operators are under his direction.
Exigrncics Of the European war compelled the
Government to take over the Sayville and
Tuckerton privately owned wireless plants, the
only privnte plants in the country communicating
diVctly with continental Europe. Officers AMI
men Of the navy. under the direction of Capt.
Billiard. are operating these plnuts.
Under the slender shadows of the trinity II
towers on Arlington Heights. overlooking WASH
ington from the Virginia side If the Potomac.
is "A brick .Alildiii-. dwarfel by the great struc-
lures that rise above 1t. In one corner of this
building. IN the second floor. is the office If
Capt. Billiard.
Born IN Pennsylvania in December. 1866. he
is not quite - years did. In 1SS2 he was
appointed to the Naval Academy. from which
institution he was graduated fonr years later.
but to which he has returned for four different
tours of duty rs a member of the faculty.
Physics. chemistry and electrical engineering
have been the branches he has taught. ana n text
book he has written on electrical engineering Is
standard there ana elsewhere.
In lSG the year following he Spanish .Ameri.
can war, Mr.. Mnrconi brought tu this country
from Italy three sets If his wonderful new wire
less apparatus, the immediate purpose being to
use them in reporting the International yacht
races Of that year. The Navy Department. long
interested in the subject. appointed n board II
four officers to observe and report on the work
ing OF the system.
Following the report Of this board the Ie-
partment placed the battleship Massachusetts.
the armorel cruiser New York and the torpedo
boat Porter at the disposal Of Mr.. Marconi for
further experiments with a shore station e>tab-
lished on the grounds Of the Highland light
house, near the entrance to New York harbor.