Arizona republican., 1919-05-03
GAN WE TALK TO MARS
 ASK ASTRONOMERS

Shall we be able to talk with Mars or other planets in the near future? Having perfected wireless interconti- mental communications, will the next achievement of science be the estab lishment of interworld intercourse?
 The possibility of establishing a Hello Mars!" line has been for sev- eral years one of sciences most fas cinating speculations. And, for all we know to the contrary, Mars has been working to establish a Hello, earth." line Certainly if the Red Planet, named for the war god, lives up to it's name, it should be especially eager to establish communications just now and be posted on poison gas, submarines and the other modern improvements of strife
 A few months before the war opened, a distinguished astronomer. NJ. Lel Coutre of Geneva, arrived at the con clusion that inhabitants of Mars were signaling the earth. During observa- tions which lasted seventeen days, heI remarked a series of luminous appari- tions of a bluish white color, lasting some seconds and occurring on several different nights. He compared them to the light of a powerful electric arc light.
 Would Make Great Mirror
 The noted French astronomer. Ca mile Flammarion, and Prof. W. H. Pickering of Harvard, both have de- clared that communication between us and the Martians might be established by light signals. Professor Pickering suggested that a quarter of a mile square of mirror turned on an axis to- ward Mars be used for reflecting the rays of the sun.
 'I think a still better way of putting a system of mighty reflectors in prac- tice," commented M. F1ammarion, would be by electric light reflectors at night, as the luminous projections thus thrown from the dark surface Of the earth would be seen much more easily than a reflected light intense enough in itself, but neutralized to a certain extent by the bright surface Of the sunlight earth.
 "In either case the signals could cer- tainly be seen by the Martians. pro- vided they possess instruments and other means of perception equivalent 10 our telescopes. The experiment might be tried in any part of the world. Sup | answered the rest would be easy
 Code Would Be Easy
 First primitive calls exchanged would be just the interplanetary tele- graphic Are you there.' Once com 1 munication is established the invention of a code of thought transmission, in telligible for both worlds. would be a comparatively easy matter.
 The fact is" M. F1ammarion added, there is no doubt that the Martians, if they exist, have attempted to get into communication with our planet. It must not be forgotten that the tele- scope was unknown three hundred i-years ago. and only within the last hundred years have astronomers stud jed Mars seriously. so that it may be ! that unperceiyed by the inhabitants of 1 the earth, Mars signaled to us thous- ands of years ago, and. obtaining no i response abandoned the efforts, con ! cluding that our planet was unin- | habited.'
 Another method of signaling has l been suggested by Prof. Robert W, 1 Wood Of Johns Hopkins university. "A 1 large black spot on the white alkali plains" he pointed out. "could be con structed at much less expense than a huge mirror and would be as easily ] perceived by the Martans, if they exist i and have telescopes as powerful as CUTS It would he as easy to wink ] signals with the black spot as with q ! mirror of equal size perhaps easier. ! The spot could he made in small sec tions of black cloth. arranged 10 roll
 up on long cylinders. exposing the white ground underneath the cylinders