Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19
HEAD OF GREAT WIRE SYSTEM
Emil Frey, Former Soldier in War
Of Rebellion, Directs European
Cable and Wireless.
HEADQUARTERS WITH SWISS


Correspondence Of the Associated Press.) !
BERNE, Switzerland. Feb. 1O.-Emil |
Frey. former president OF Switzerland, Is |
one OF the notable men OF the country |
who, since retiring prom the presidency, |
has become head Of the International
union by which the telegraph, cable and |
wireless systems Of the world are regu-
lated at this central point, But while
Mr. Frey has risen TO the highest office
In his own country. he feels that he Is
about half American. for he was In the
American civil war from start to finish
as a member OF an Illinois regiment, was
captured at Gettysburg and held as u
prisoner for fifteen months at Richmond.
met and knew such war figures as Grant,
Sheridan. Lee and Isongstreet, and later
on returned TO Washington as Swiss min
lister. where he renewed the acquain-
tance with Sheridan and others made in
war days. When a friend remarked on
the correctness of his English, he said:
II took my lessons under rather novel
conditions in Libby prison at Richmond.
My prison companion could speak moth
Ing but English. SO that after being with
him for fifteen months had acquired q
good knowledge OF English"
Mr.. Frey was held as a hostage against
southern prisoner. Captain Gordon,
held In the north under sentence of death,
and as a result he was under sentence
OF death until Gordon was released. When
Gordon died later some Of the southern
papers had the picture of Gordon and
Frey as the two whose lives had been
paired against each other. But few knew
this northern soldier. Frey. was the presi-
dent OF Switzerland
scope of the Union.
The International Cable and Telegraph
union. which Mr.. Frey direots, Is one of
those worid-organizations administered
here in Berne. II is rather strange that
Switzerland. far from the sea and with
out any cable connections, should be
chosen TO direct the vast ramifications OF
the worlds cables, to which has now been
added the world's wireless systems, and
all the telegraph OF Europe and the orient
But It Is largely for the reason that
Switzerland has no direct interest n these
huge systems. and stands at one side as
neutral observer. that It IL chosen to
carry on this intricate service.
Mr.. Frey's offices occupy large build
ing, with an extensive personnel at work
on cable and telegraph tariffs, the ad.
justment of disputes between countries
over rates and procedure. the preparation
Of cable. telegraph and wireless maps
and printed volumes embracing every
point the world over that can be reached
by any OF the modern methods Of quick
| transmission.
This union Is unique In one respect"
said Mr.. Frey, ''Rs II is the first reaIiza-
ton. OF the idea OF a rld-adminlstra-
tion. Before it was created in 1865 the
different nations had passed similar laws
and uniformity was secured by treaties
and conventions under these laws. But
the international union actually realised
a world-administration which Is now ca =
ried on for nations all over the globe
with the same regularity as any ad-
ministration OF a state or private organ.
isatIon."
The war has mad a paralyEing effect on
cable and telegraph ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In its restriction and Interruptions than
anything In the history OF electrical trans
Mission. This effects chiefly the beIlig-
erent countries. all transmission between
them being at a standstill. while the
transmission between neutrals ana bel
iigerents, and between two neutrals. Is
and roundabout routes.
AS 20 Interruptions,
The latest list OF Interruptions compiled
by the international union covers sixteen
, closely printed folio pages-a first list OF
twelve pages and a 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 numherless restrictions
, on cipher kilograms. admissible Ian
guage, etc. each country having put out
r a mass OF regulations as a measure OF
military emergency, For example. the
: first page OF the list shows the following
complete Interruptions:
All communication between Hungary
and Russia between Austria and Russia
a between Belgium and Germany. between
b Berlin Petrograd and Teheran. between
, France and Luxemburg. between Austris
and France. between Austria ana Mon
tenegro. between Hungary and Serbia
Al.