The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-10
Worlds Nerve Center
Run by Man Who
j Was in Union Army.
(continued from Page one.l

Richmond. Ny prison companion
could speak nothing but English SO
that after being with him for fifteen
months had acquired a good knowl-
edge OF English.
Mr.. Frey was held as hostage
against Southern prisoner, Capt.
Gordon, held in the North under SEN
tence of death, and as result he also
was under sentence of death until
Gordon was released. When Gordon
died later some of the Southern pap
ers had the picture. OF Gordon and
Frey as the two: whose lives had been
paired against each otEor. But few
knew this Northern soldier, Frey, was
the President Of Switzerland.
The International Cabel and Tele-
gram Union, which Mr.. Frey directs.
is one Of those world:organtzations
administered here in Berne. 1t is
from the sea and without any cable
connections, should be chosen to d.
rect the vast ramitications OF the
worlds cables, to which has now been
added the worlds wireless systems,
and all the telegraph OF Europe and
the Orient. But it Is largely for the
reason that Switzerland has no direct
interest in these huge systems, and
stands at one side as a neutral obser-
,Ver, that she Is chosen to carry on
this intricate service. Mr.. Frey's
offices occupy a large building, with
an extensive personnel at work on
cable and telegraph tariffs, the adjust
ment of disputes between countries
over rates and procedure, the prepara-
ton of cable, telegraph and wireless
maps and printed volumes of quick
transmission.
"This union is unique in one re-
spect", said Mr.. Frey, "as It is the
first realizat ton Of the idea Of a-world-
administration. Before it was ere.
ated in 1866 the different nations had
passed similar laws. But the Inter
national Union actually realized a
world administration which Is now
carried on for nations all over the
globe with the same regularity any
administration OF state or private
organization"
The war has had a paralyzing effect
no cable and telegraph transmission
greater in its restrictions and inter-
iduptions than anything in the history
of electrical transmission. This at
ects chiefly the belligerent countries,
all transmission between them being
at stadstill, while the transmission
between neutrals and belligerents,
and between two neutrals, is very
much restricted and subject to new
and roundabout routes.
The latest list of Interruptions COM
piled by the International Union
covers sixteen closely printed folio
pages-a first list OF twelve pages
and supplement- OF four pages.
Thirty complete interruptions Of all
communication between countries are
recorded, while the rest Of the list is
made up OF the numberless restrict
ions on cipher kilograms, admissible
language etc., each country having
put out mass Of regulations as a
measure of military emergency. For
example, the first page of the list
shows the following complete inter-
tween Hungary and Russia, between
Austria and Russian, between Belgium
and Germany, between Berlin, Petro-
grad and Teheran, between France
and Luxembourg, between Austria
and France, between Austria and
Montenegro, between Hungary and
Serbia; between Bosnia. Herzegovina
and Serbia, between Turkey and Rus
STA; between Constantinople and Cd.
essa, between Constantinople and
Tenedos, between Italy and Austria,
between Bulgaria and Serbia, between
Rumania and Serbia, etc., etc.
h This is only one page, and each sub
sequent page gives its mass of inter-
ruptions, complete or partial. Aus