Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-23
WAR AND THE WIRES
By FREDERIC J. HAsKrN

rAsHINGToN. May 19.--The navy department
w recently played its second war game" this
w time for purpose of testing the efficiency
of the telephone and telegraph systems of the country
in case of war demonstration lasted for two days
in which the states supposed to be the
eve of mobilization Word received that an
imaginary enemy had been sighted off the Atlantic
coast Secretary Daniels ordered the United States
batteship Hampshire scouting duty by wireless
telephone The naval officials communicated with the
various navy yards long distance telephone and the
telegraph wires were kept busy sending and receiving
messages
Among other things word was received from the
Brooklyn navy yard that the Brooklyn bridge had been
blown. up by the enemy several ships had been
damaged and they waiting for orders This par
ticular message much in keeping with anony-
nous recently addressed to the navy depart
ment that near being accepted at face value.
AS result of these threats, Brooklyn bridge well
as the other bridges is patrolled by detective force
which looks askance pedestrian with bullying
pockets packages. After the first startled moment
the navy yard it's orders right back the tee
phone - --sst. ..-s
Since the officials were compelled give up their
sunday holiday to the game they determined to
get as much of it possible They asked the
hardest questions of the navy yards and the navy
wards retaliated by doing the same thing This all
very good the since, if for
was unable fair question dealing with his
special of work, lit referred to sort of
pre, made 1T his business to find out why. Any
apparent of efficiency Immediately investi-
gated. for, under actual conditions. the work of
each tremendously important and the slightest
mistake may cause the greatest bIunder.
Communication was established by long distance
.1orbone over thousands of miles of wire with naval
sto+ions at New York; Chicago Norfolk, Pensacola,
GO I,iago and Puget Sound. Secretary Daniels sat at
tic desk and called the United States battleshp
>rarv Hampshire, which stationed at Hampton
ods The telephone operator at the navy department
..sroitted the communication to the Arlington wire
-. citations where secretarys voice projected
49,. the ether by and carried the batteship,
there the wireless operator received it and trans
itted it through telephone to the captain Thus
the voice of Secretary Daniels in Washington was
Ia.r1v heard by Captain Chandler the
IIe~onsbire lying off Hampton Roads.
The secretary of the navy told Captain Chandler
.ho+ the enemy had sighted coast and
he was to get New Hampshire under way imme-
iateIv in role of scout Captain Chandler replied
that the New Hampshire could under way until
"a o'clock next morning, to which the secretary
onliad that would be satisfactory,
+ba shin to report position every thereafter
- the government stations Arlington a
mort was by telephone for the first time in the
history of the world
r,ur;ne the two days in which the game lasted
N +alAnhone and telegraph facilities put at the
Zeal of the government by the American Telegraph
1olenhone in order to show its ability to
+aTa care of government messages in time of war.
rhis company established preparedness station
a. the navy department which is to cooperate with the
arrr,ent wireless stations perfecting a system of
Communication efficiency which country has
had before All the latest Geographic and telephone
devices are to placed in this station For example
one machine permits the sending and receiving stimuli
taneously eight messageshat is four outgoing and
four incoming-over a single wire
One man, after viewing this apparatus and hearing
the result the conversation by wireless telephone,