The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-19
WIRELESS STATIONS
ARE EASILY LOCATED
Unlicensed Plants Cannot Exist With
out knowledge OF
Government.

BOSTON, Feb. 19.-Since the war
started two and half years ago, per-
cistent rumors Of secret German wire
less stations, hidden in the depths of
the Maine woods or some other inaccns
sible place, have spread through the
country, arousing much amazement at
the farreaching efforts of the German
spies in this country.
Recently the Tumors were resurrect-
Cd, with elaborate details as to how
these German spies communicated with
their brethren on board the U-boats
and German raiders that are harassing
English steamers along our coast.
Once and for all, let this fantastic
story be knocked in the head, and die
sudden and inglorious death. There
is about as much chance of a secret
! German wireless station operating in
this country undiscovered by the au-
thorities as there is of the United
States taking sides with Germany
against the allies.
/ L. s. Radio Inspector II. G. Gawler,
in charge of the New England divi-
sion, told reporter yesterday how easy
! il is for them to discover an unlicens
! cd station. In the first place the radio
headquarters are notified of proposed
radio installations by supply houses
and other sources, before the station
is built.
/ On top of this. the minute that Il
strange wireless station starts working
and refuses to give its call number.
Inspector Gawler gets busy. With the
( aid Of what is called an exploring loon,
and triangulation, the site Of of the
plant is Immediately established and
lust ms fast rs radio man can Get to
/ the spot. the unlicensed stranger is
being questioned
This exploring loop is wooden
frame about three feet square. around
which is coilod n wire from one end Ia
the other. This temporary antcnna Is
first turned to the sounding wireless
then it is moved back and forth until
ii sounds the loudest. TIL exact direc.
ton is found by consulting a compass
and a line is drawn on a map. The
frame is then moved some distance
away, and the operation repeated
Where these two lines cross on tho
map is the exact location Of the plant
Some time ago a wireless system was
installed on ship that was being built
at the Fore River works. without thu
, radio inspector being notified. They
started testing the plant one morning
Ten minutes later the operator ut I'll,
, Charlcstovn navy yard had called NJ
the radio inspector b. telephone. ask
G ing who the stranger was. Inside O
= 10 more minutes INSPECTOR Cawler ba,
q located the stranger with his frame
-. and the Fore River works were on tht
=. rhonc and notified to tell the operate
to report TO headquarters.
In the event Of war with Germany
in one way, at least. the United state
! is ready for anything and that is j
regard to wireless plants. \ few year
ago, the American Radio Relay leagu
( was formed by Hiram Maxim, the wei
known inv .ntor, and since that tim.
practically all the amateurs have bee
enrolled and are ready for any even
, tuality.
Wireless trunk lines have been es
! tablished from point to point. and mes
e sagcs are relaved from ono side Of til
country TO the other. At the presen
c time there are II Of these high powere
!, amateur stations in New England, ar
- even if every telephone and Telegram
r wire was crippled, We still would b
able 70 carry or send messages any
t where, and ut any time.
: This system viii b. of immense hel
d to the United States war and navy d,
partmcnts i'm the event Of war. III
!, news that a STRANGE submarine or otht
I. warcraft was SIGHTED along thu Goa.
- a,,,- ,.,i.,4 ,,,,rII it,,uolio4 ola, aa ~; p
lesscd q our fighting craft and TO th
nearest navy yard. In co-oreratio
/, with the proposed gigantic fleet Of ri
/. craft which would undoubtedly sprin
Lp following the declaration of war,
would prove 10 be the eyes and ears {
= cur defense system.