New-York tribune., 1921-10-02

USeI cast us 9OcnOrS IN the huQSOn
and began sending ont its radio mes
sage5 Ike the phantom -entacles Of
an immeasurably colossal octopus, one of the
navy wireless operators charced to come into
contact with young woman amateur radio
fan in remote corner of New York, iho was
experimenting with her n$truments, and if
one is wireless fan one davotes practically
every evening to this most fascinating hobby
The radio conversation between the two
Immediately assumed q personal character
and the "sparking" became something moro
than merely electrical Detailed descriptious
of the two impromptu correspondents were
followed by names and addresses, and the
conversation concluded with a dinner and
theater invitation. In order to be sure that
the two would Identify each other upon their
first meeting they arranged to be At a certain
spot on Broadway and Forty-second Street at
specified moment, and the dress of the
lady IN the case, as we'll as the uniform Of
the radio operator, was described az length.
That the budding romance was auspiciouslv
started on its way may be duly attested bv
she score or more of witnesses among the anna
teur radio fans who listened in upon the
Irritation and who showed up at the appont-
ed place and time 10 take a look at the TWEEN
tetb century Romeo, who had not merely
climbed a rope ladder to his lady's chambeq
but had literally reached up into the night
air, stretched out across the water and over
great city and snatched romance out Of
clear space. For the filtration had beer
heard, word for word, by between 5000 and
$4,000 amateur radio folk within a radius Of
hundred miles or so
all radin rorr,111Ir7 tior ono oo, ,,.--o.
know how many ears are eavesdropping. In
the New York district alone there are abou,
10000 amateur radio operators who can show
licenses issued to them by the Department of
Commerce, which long ago gave up the hopa-
less task Of suppressng the amateur and wise
y adopted the alternate course of recognizing
nm and treating him like the human being
tnat ne is and regulating his activities so that
MS messages would not Jam the air to The
interference of commercial and government
BUSINESS, much Of which Is now being trans
acted by radio. In the whole country there
are said to be about 100000 licensed ana
'eors, and the number is growing daily.
IN addition TO these there are innumerable
oIneTs who have neither the equipment nor
Iae authority to enter the vast, mysterious
realms OF the ether, but who take doGobt
nevertheless, in listening in with tne nd of
simple and inexpensive Instruments: thcv are.
In effect, silent guests of the g1oat conona,,v
taat hold intercourse every night THROUGHOUT
not only this country but throughout tho
Whole world. For the wireless is no regDect
eS OF geographical boundaries.
ds a matter of fact, radio communication
Q neid daily By the powerful professional IN
ssrume11s II New York with Paris, London
Japan and with South American cities. The
am@1eur Ii restricted to less powerful ma
caines that cover smaller territories, but ege7
VIE tnese necessary limitations occasionally
sofae remarkable demonstrations are made Of
'oe possibilities Of the amateur transrni1ters
inch are usually confined to 200, 800 and
'"o meter wave lengths, az compared to the
PROFESSIONAL instruments, that 20 as high as
1S'ooo meter wave lengths.
Al present the vast potential force of ANA
s'f wireless fans Is largely unorganized, 50
ss' DE- governmental agencies are concerned
." OBTAIN authority 10 send messages ar ant
's'r, 10 be sure, NUT satisfy the Department
= commerce that he or she is pcrson Of re-
~S"nz'Dihty,' with proper radio equipment and
81 experience and proficiency that may clas-
= siy narn IN one Of six grades He then gcts
- aeeIss and IL set loose to do pretty much
= &c cnoozes ~ long as he obseryes the clear
y osnned traffic rules Of the air.
:. *S mustn't, for example, steal information
- ~s'' Dsiongs 10 the other fellow lie mustn't
80, @"aJ secrets that he may pick up ia his
.1p'ofat'on tours through the air. lie mustn't
,,Iesssonate !, any one Or send fake fneasagea.
'SS 'Aa't aways Identity himself ~ glving