Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-12
WIRELESS SENT
UNDE RGR0UND BY
NAVY Department
New Discovery, Which Was
Closely Guarded Secret
During War, Is Given Out by
United States Government.
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Washington, Jan. 1l.--How under
ground and through water wireless
was put into practical use during the
war was disclosed today by the navy
department, giving TO the public an
other of its secrets, carefully guarded
so long us it might be of value to the
enemy. Government officials regard
this development, originated in pri-
waite research by James H.. Rogers a
scientist of Hiattsville, Md, as one OF
the war major scientific advances of
the kind. In practical use, the new
system so far is employed for re-
ceiving, Radio messages sent out from
powerful stations in Europe are row
being read at underground receiving
stations in the United States and, in
some cases, better than when
caught by elaborate and expensive air
stations.
In addition, it was revealed at the
department, through an adaptation Of
the Rogers theory, submarines under
water are intercepting radio signals
sent from shore, and with crude APP
paratus the scientist has succeeded in
transmitting signals two miles from
q submerged wire Stimulating a sub
mersible. Officials say it is possible,
although not yet an accomplished fact,
that ground or water sending can be
developed to n considerable extent.
They do not anticipate, however, that
the present method of sending from
high towers will be superseded except
for limited special purposes
The theory most generally held I'M
til Rogers demonstrated the correct
ness of his views, was that impulses
hurled into the air from radio trans
hitting station and DETECTED earth
ward became dissipated as does
lightning, when they struck the
ground CT water. The Maryland scien-
tist however, believed that the inn
pulses flowed through the earth as
through The air and that it was only
necessary to trap and measure them
IN the ground. He had been ct work
on this theory before the United States
entered the war and already had in
tu"ested naval cSperts. He offered the
results of his work to the navy with
out restriction, and when they ac-
copied after some demonstra tons at
friatts"ilfe, officials saw, he was with
difficulty persuaded to accept even re-
Gtrnoration for actual time given to
cooperation with he government.
One of the steps taken was the re-
Quest of the navy department that his
publication for patents be expedited.
This was done.
Some of the main advantages of the
Rogers system as developed 50 far, ac-
cording to the experts, are almost neg
liglble cost of construction, the inten-
styling of signals by pointing the send
ing apparatus toward the receiving
station, and reduction Of static inter-
ference. Because of the latter advan-
tage the navy's receiving station att
New Orleans where communication
with ships in southern waters swept
by frequent electrical storms is main
tanned, uses the underground appar-
atus with marked success.
In war a great advantage is that,
submarines receive messages while
submerged, by means of wires trail
ing In the water.
The Rogers DEVELOPMENT aroused
electrical experts of the government
to new efforts to expand and improve
radio transmission facilities. Out of
the experimental work done with this
and other ideas, steady advance has
been made under war pressure and
Rogers theories are interviewer with
those Of other men in the results that
are being obtained.