The Washington times., 1920-01-28
Nav Get Our Messages.

with the scientific world today en-
gagged In discussion OF Marconfs sug-
gestions OF signals from Mars, caus-
ing interruptions" 20 our earthly
radios, DIR. James Harris Rogers, In
venor OF the underseas and UNDER
ground wireless. whose plaboratory
Is at Hyattsville. Nd, and Admiral
w. II. @. Bullard. In charge OF the
Naval Communication Service at Po-
tomac Park, declared Il their opinion
that IL Mrs Is inhabited IL is possible
that the Martians are getting our
messages and may be trying to sig
nal us.
"If Mars Is really Inhabited" said
DIT. Rogers. at being so much older
than the earth. there Is reason to sup
pose the Msrtians are far more ad-
vanced than the inhabitants OF the
earth.
Waves Obey Laws Of Light.
'I believe In the theory OF the
propagation of electromagnetic
waves. and that these waves obey all
the laws OF light, and that this energy
thrown on from an aerial passes
through the upper layers OF atmos-
phere and Is propagated In straight
lines toward the other planets. So.
IL Mars Is inhabited and the Martians
have highly developed wireless re-
ceivers, II Is within range OF the pos
sibility they are receiving signals or
messages from the earth.
MANY scientists believe in what Is
known as the Heaviside theory: that
Is, that the upper regions of the at
mosphere is so thoroughly ironized by
the violate rays Of the sun that II acts
like a vast concave mirror. and that
electromagnetic waves sent from
aerials do not pass through. or pene-
trate through. this layer. but are re-
fiected back to the earth. This the
OF us talking or receiving messages
from Mars.
81 do not believe in this theory.
No Satisfactory Explanation.
"Marconi has stated he has observ.
ed 'strays' at regular intervals-cer-
tain signals which possibly emana-
ted from Mars. In my experience, In
! listening in for many years, and
studying all kinds OF disturbances,
never have observed any regularity
or anything to indicate that these
signals were sent by Intelligence.
Scientists. however. have not found
a satisfactory explanation for these
StTtyS- VI COuTSe SOHlC VI tntHi 81
| attributable to atmospheric electrical
| conditions-such as from lightning
| clouds charged with electricity. But
| the scientific world cannot today ex
plain these 'strays' to satisfaction.
''T do not attempt to state that these
signals or 'strays' noted by Marconi
are not emenating from other planets
Great study and records should be
kept OF these signals, as II were. 10
| cause reasonable assuredness that
they come from another planet
THE 'strays' have not been Of q
! single character. But, this could be
explained that possibly senders from
Mars, or some other planet. are using
| all sorts Of characters in attempts to
| communicate with the Earth.
| But, II there are powerful trans
mitting instruments in Mare, goine
on the theory that the planet Is in
habited, there is no reason why we
| cannot receive their message here
! Light received on this planet Is moth
| ing more than electromagnetic waves
and the same applies to the transmits
sion Of wireless messages.
Earth's Surface A Csndsetsr.
due to the fact that the surface
1 OF the earth Is a conductor. atmos
pheric conditions and disturbances
such as lightning, or 'strays' which
are caused at times by reaction be
tween different layers Of rarified all
at extreme atttituds, do not penetrate
through the earth's surface to any
extent and thus, by the use OF under
ground wires. radio signals are receiv
ed to the exclusion Of a great amount
of these disturbances.
EFT may be further explained thai
]