Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-04
Wireless, Eye for
Warrior, Says MdrcOni

not as much as we really expected. In the
first place, it is a difficult thing to do, but
think the real reason why interference has
been abandoned Is because it is not worth
while. If one side started out to jam the
others wireless messages, there would be
retaliation. Neither side would be able to
communicate with its navy. II isn't prac-
ttable, you see"
Then there is "A good deal Of eavesdrop-
ping in the air?"
"Oh, yes, we can sit in England and
hear the German field stations i'm the Tllr-
ksh army in Palestine. or in France,
we can hear the field stations of the Rus
sian front, OF course there are different
tunes, but il is not hard to adjust ones
instrument to the required tune"
But the messages are mostly in code are
they not?'
Certainly, but it is not hard to de-
cipher them when you have experts" the
inventor smiled lie might have been think
ing Of the old maNim-all is fair in love
and war
Then there are few secrets in the air,
after all?"
no, not many. and certainly not for
any length Of time"
Signor Marconi spoke Of the fascinating
flight to and fro through the air almost
every minute Of the day mad night of
thousands and thousands OF messages,
many about commercial business, but the
greatest majority nowadays concerned i'm
one way or another with the great war.
the movement Of battleships cruisers and
destrOyers at sea, the action Of artillery
and infantry in land. the scouting by
aerOpanes in the air. the detection Of sub
marines moving stealthiiy under water,
the cries of distress of torpedoed ships
and laundering vessels and the grim mes
sages in mysteriously veiled language,
some perhaps from secret stations on Eng
lish and French coasts. some from neutral
territory telling the undersea boats where
they may find further prey"
"Do YOU think the principle of the wire
less will help to solve the submarine prob
lem?'
many inventions that depend on the wire
less for their execution, but none is in use
There are. of course other kinds Of inven-
tions"
Have you heard Of any invention that
will be perfect protection against the
submarine?'
NO. but there are some very good de-
vices now in use There is for instance.
no cure for consumption as yet but you
can always fight II. The devices that we
now have are certainly reducing losses.
Whether the cure ever VIII be found is an
other matter, but the effectiveness of the
| submarine can be gradually diminished,
| am sure
The inventor said he had not come to
the United States on any technical errand,
but as a member of the Royal Italian Mis-
sion 10 pay a complimentary visit to this
country lie said he had not yet conferred
with American inventors or with officials OF
the Navy Department here, but expected
to before he returned to Italy.
"Our inventors are working day and night
on all sorts Of suggestions" he said.
As to the future of the wireless MarcOnl
shook his head The advances made by
science had been 80 rapid that he hestated
to predict what magic things might yet be
accomplished by the use Of ether waves
lie doesn't think the wireless telephone has
vet been perfected. lie believes that the
wireless telegraph will always supersede
the telephone, because II is more accurate
and safer
"The wireless telephone introduces diff
! cuties in pronunciation" he said Unless
| IL is used to read the message, II will be
difilcult to check up whether the receiver
| has caught all the conversation OF the
sender The wireless telegraph, Of course,
makes It possible 10 check up for accuracy
| instantaneously and there can be no mis-
| understanding of the written word. Some
navles however, are doing very well with
| the wireless telephone"
Signor Marconi modestly acknowledges
that the wireless has been improved by
| thousands of other scientific men, The cost
| of equipment, too has been gradually re-
duced until the popularity Of the invention
makes one forget for the moment what a
wonderful thing 1t Is to communicate, II not
actually 10 talk with, an unseen person
thousands and thousands OF miles away,
across continents and across oceans--and
all this due 20 the genius of the young Ital-
ian who, with Prince udine, cousin OF King
Victor Emmanuel and a distinguished COM
/ pany of Italians, has corno 20 pay homage
10 the nation that has entered the lists
alongside the Italian reople In tne suugfic