The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-01-14
THE WIRELESS IN WAR.
How Invention Meets Demands of
Strategy.

| IN actual warfare Ill 1SUO, "ASu lIlC
Russian army officers, during the
Manchurian campaign, kept in touch
with one another by means OF wire
less stations that could be carried
from place to place according to the
movements of the troops.
Wireless telegraphy, as applied to
war purposes, however, was only in
its infancy then, and its remarkable
adaptation to naval and military pur-
poses since has been practically in
the nature Of revolution. Who
would have dreamed eight years ago
that wireless messages reporting the
operations of the enemy could be
transmitted from a scout aeroplane
to the army of it's colors, and yet
such a miracle is nowadays not only
possible, but presumably in actual
evidence in the present war.
Twelve years ago, when Mr.. Mar
conf began experimenting with port
able wireless telegraph stations for
use in war. it was found that a range
of only eight miles was possible, and
the war Office advised that unless a
range of 12 miles could be guaran-
teed, wireless stations were hardly
of much service to the authorities.
Not to be daunted, Mr.. Marconi set
to work and not only succeeded in
obtaining the increased range Of II
miles, but also in extending 1t to 20
miles.
In his original apparatus power
for the transmitter of wireless mes
sages was derived from accumulation
batteries. but these were dispensed
with in favor of a dynamo driven by
a petrol engine. and the Russian
army, which was the first to use
them, found them of great assistance.
Nowadays the apparatus has been
so improved that range of between
$50 and $50 miles is possible. In
the Balkan war the Servians had
wireless stations which allowed them
to communicate over a distance OF
200 miles. During the siege of Ad-
rianople a wireless set shut up IN a
besieged city enabled the enemy to
keep in touch with the Turkish gov
ernment at Constantinople, and it is
estimated that during the investment
over 100000 words were transmit
ted to headquarters.
The Roumanian army, during the
second Balkan war that followed the
quarrel over the partition of the
spoils, was equipped with wireless
telegraphic instruments which in
sured regular radio-telegraphic COM
munications between the headquar-
ters and various Roumanian COM
manders in the field, and some 5000
kilograms of 10000 words in all
were QSdlI Will.
During the present war the finest
illustration of the wonders of the
wireless is being given. not least be-
ing the way in which our ships in the
North sea have been able to keep in
touch with the admiralty by means
of electromagnetic waves transmit
ted through the ether.
There are various forms for wire
less equipment for use in war.
The simplest is the knapsack sta
ton. which is intended primarily to
be employed by scouts and to replace
to a large extent ordinary signaling
and the carrying of messages by
mounted orderlies. Communication
is possible over a distance of five or
seven miles.
The apparatus for sending and re-
ceiving the messages is so compact
that it can be conveniently carried by
two men and erected in five minutes.
The different parts of the station
pack into haversacks or valises
weighing in all 80 pounds.
From wherever it is desired to
send messages a light mast is erect
ed to carry the aerial or elevated
wire from which the waves are emit
ted, and by which the incoming
waves are trapped, the source of en-
ergy for the transmitter being an ac-
cumulator carried in an aluminium
case and weighing 13 pounds, which
can be charged as required from a
special field charging set which is
generally carried.
The most important wireless sta
ton is designed for wheel transport,
the apparatus requiring two-horse
carts or motor wagons, A range or
from $50 miles to $50 miles, is here
possible, the stations maintaining
communication between military
posts which require to change their
ooe;+iouc froruontly