The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-03
GOVERNMENT SHOULD
CONTROL ALL. WIRELESS
Secretary Daniels Points Out Danger
OF Alien Use Of Radio
Stations.
UNNEUTRAL ACTS ARE EASY.
Master Of Ship Cannot Know Char
acter of Messages Being Sent Out
BY Alien Operator-Put Only
Americans On Guard.

Washington, Jan. "A govern
ment monopoly Of wireless communi-
cation. both by land and sea, was de-
manded by Secretary of the Navy
Daniels tonight as an imperative
necessity for the national defense. The
Secretary of tho Navy, In a letter to
Senator Fletcher. chairman of the
Senate Commerce Committee. and
Representative Alexander. chairman
of the House Merchant Marine Com.
mittee, urged speedy action on a
pending measure authorizing the gov
eminent to take over and operate all
wireless stations, as absolutely neces-
saryefor the best interests of the ma
ton"
The secretarys letter emphasized
the difficulties encountered in prevent
ing the unneutral use of wireless sta
tons in private hands. and the menace
of permitting alien operators aboard
American ships in times of interna
tional difficulty. He suggested a pro-
vision in the pending legislation which
would bar all but American citizens
from operating wireless apparatus on
American vessels.
The difficulties of maintaining the
radio neutrality of the United States
during the present war have been real
In spite of the earnest attempts on the
part of commercial radio companies
TO cooperate with the department
the secretary said.
Unneutral Service.
The possibilities of unneutral SER
t,ic h, nf v,nnr fva
stations in the United States contain
ing information of military value to
one side or the other are very great.
while commercial radio stations under
other than government control e,.H
give out information Of incalculahle
value during that twilight period
which would probably precade the
opening of any war to which this
country might become n party"
Authority to take over and operate
or to close commercial stations in
time of war will not suffice. Score
tary Daniels declared.
The stations must be In full gov
eminent operation before the first
hint of possible hostilities." he said
Since aliens operating On board an
American ship today can perform I'M
neutral service without the knowl-
edge OF the master. which can result
in the capture or sinking of a ship.
/ recommend that ship stations be
included in the provision making
American operators necessary. Pro-
vision should be made, however, fer
the temporary employment OF the
alien operator for service on an Amer
lean ship in emergencies, but no
American ship should he allowed. or
dinarily, to leave port of the United
States except with operators who are
United States citizens"
Must Maintain Stations Anyway.
Inasmuch as the government must
maintain it's radio system for the con-
troll of the fleets and for other gov
eminent business. Secretary Daniels
declared that 1t IL a needless dupl-
cation of work and capital to permit
stations to operate where they can
Interfere with each other and with
the military and other government
work of stations Government sta
tions, IL was suggested. can easily
handle commercial work in times Of
peace, as Is demonstrated by the
business now done by the Navy De-
partment's twenty-three stations
Mutual interference between sta
tons, which has always been a per
picking problem for the department
radio experts, Is suggested az another
reason for government control and
operation. Secretary Daniels cited
the fact that the radio telegraphy now
is strict government monopoly with
a large number of foreign countries
and that in such foreign countries
where commercial stations are per
mitted. governments control is very
strong IL it does not actually amount
TO monopoly.