The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-12
WIRELESS SENT BY
WATER AND EARTH
submerged Submarines and
stations Underground Can
Receive Messages.
NAVY SECRET REVEALED
Rogcr>'s System Is Wonderful,
But Is Not Likely to Sup
plant Radio Towers.
NAVY SECRET REVEALED

NAsulNGToN. Jan. 11.-lIow UNDER
round and through-water wireless was
rot into practical use during the war
vas disclosed to-day by Navy Depart
m.nt officials, giving to the public an
,Ner Of its secrets carefully guarded
q, long as it might be o. value 10 the
tosnly Government officials regard this
lsve0pmeut originated IN private re-
search by James IL. Rogers. scientist
@, Hya ttsvlle. Md. as one OF the wars
major scientific advances of the kind
In practical use the new system 80
Jar Is employed only for receiving radio
ifessages sent out from powerful sta
.o,s IN Europe These are now being
cad at underground receiving stations
u the United States ana in some cases
tier tayn when caught by the elaborate
nd expensive air stations.
In addition, II was revealed at the
Department, through an adaptation OF
ne Rogers theory. submarines under
rater are intercepting radio signals sent
rom shore. With crude apparatus the
scientist has succeeded in transmitting
signals two miles from a submerged
wire Stimulating a suomersible.
Can He Further Developed.
oniclals say 1. is possible. although
lot yet an accomplished fact, that
ground or water sending can be devel-
ped to n considerable extent. They do
.ot anticipate. however. that the present
Method of sending from high towers
-. limit Al
sJeCial purposes.
The theory most generally held until
rogers demonstrated the correctness of
lis views was that impulses hurled into
he air from radio transmitting sta
ION and DETECTED earthward became dis
-!patcd, as does lightning, when they
struck the ground or water. The Mar!
and scientist. however. believed that the
impulses lowed through the earth a
through tie air and that 1t was only
ecessary TO trap and measure them III
he ground.
Mr.. Rogers had been at work on this
theory before the United States entered
no war and already had interested ma
-al experts. He offered the results of
lis work TO the navy without restriction.
and when they were accepted after some
demonstrations at Hyattsville. officials
say. he was with difficulty persuaded to
accept even remuneration for actual
time given to cooperation with the Gov
eminent.
one Of the FIRST steps taken was the
reouest of the Navy Department. under
war legislation. that his application for
PATENTS be expedited. This was done.
Vow Used Mt New Orleans.
Some of the main advantages OF the
Rogers system as developed so far. &C.
cording TO the experts. are almost neg
Ngba cost OF construction. the intensi-
wing OF signals by pointing the sending
apparatus toward the receiving station
and reduction OF static Interference
Recausa Of the latter advance the Nays
-.ceiv'rs station at New Orleans. where
Communication with ships in Southern
waters swept by frequent electrical
forms - maintained. uses the under
ground apparatus with marked success
In war great advantage is that sub
marines receive messages while sun
merged This is being done by wires
railing in the water.
The Rogers development aroused cleo
'rical experts OF the Government 20 new
efforts 70 expand and improve radio
'ansmissioa facilities. Out OF the ex
rermental work done with this anC
her IDEAS steady advance has beer
0aie under war pressure and Mr.
gogerss theories are interviewer Wit
hose ~ other men in the results that ar,
being obtained.