New-York tribune., 1922-07-16
Crosse Country
Amateur Test
Successful
American Relay League Puts
Special Messages Across
Thirty States for Police
Convention With Success
Third Test This Year
Others Were Transatlantic
Telegraph With Low Pow
er and Cross-Country Test

The second great transcontinental
radio telegraph test conducted by the
American Radio Relay League was
completely successful and again de-
monstrated the Importance of the
magnificent organization built up by
the amateurs OF this country in cases
Of national emergency. The test was
conducted on June 3, and without
any re-arranged details.
During the three days no fewer than
1874 messages were dispatched across
the country, despite the very bad at
mosphereic conditions which prevailed
during the period. These messages
were delivered in thirty states and
two provinces Of Canada, according to
latest detailed reports.
Within the last six months the
amateurs have succeeded in three
major undertakings of this kind, and
have not failed once. All were carried
out under the auspices of the league.
Three Successful Tests
The first was the famous trans-At-
lantic test during which Paul Cooley
succeeded in receiving messages from
27 amateurs in this country at the
temporary station which he had erect
ed in Scotland. None of the 27 sta
tions was using more than one kilowatt
of power in the transmitting appara-
tus. This test alone has given rise
to new speculation on the part of
scientists regarding the manner in
which radio communication Is main
tanned.
The second successful test occurred
when congratulatory messages were
transmitted to President Harding from
the Governor of every state in the
union on the occasion of the first an
niversary on his administration. In
this test each of the messages was
received in Washington within the
time limit set by the officials of the
league.
The third test, which was held in
June, was undertaken in conjunction
with the annual convention of the In
ternational Chiefs of Police organiza-
ton. The results have just been tabu-
lated and show complete success. In
this test no details were prepared in
advance, and it was in reality a test
OF the network Of communication built
up by the league and gives an idea of
Its value in cases of emergency.
Has Been Used Locally
The system has already had several
local emergency tests, particularly in
districts that have been flooded and
where the normal means of communi-
cation has been destroyed The system
consists entirely of amateur radio op-
orators, who maintain transmitting
stations in their homes in various
parts of the country and ali of the
transmission is done on waves of 200
meters and under.
In his summary of this test F. H.
Schnell, traffic manager of the league,
reports:
con June 3, a and members of the
American Radio Relay League deliv-
cred a message to police chiefs and
sheriffs in nearly 200 cities and towns
of the United States and Canada.
The message was in the form of an
invitation from August Vollmer, chair
man of the Interna ational Association
of Chiefs of Police, with headquarters
at Berkeley, Calf. The message read
as follows:
ITO all police chiefs and sheriffs:
Please attend convention of Interna-
tional Chiefs of Police at San Fran
cisco, June 10, 1922
National Value Shown
"The idea of the relay was to show
amateur in times of emergency, which
is borne out by the fact that no sta
tion knew exactly at what time this
message was started. 1t originated at
San Francisco and spread over the en-
tire United States and Canada like
huge cyclone. In some cases the mes
sage was picked up direct at distance
of 1900 miles. In some parts of the
country lightning storms interfered
with the reception and transmission,
but the 'sticktoitiveness' of the ANA
teur was displayed even under the most
trying circumstances.
"Neil B. Judkins, radio Jpn, of
Warren, Mass, was the radio Paul
Revere After receiving the message
Judkins delivered it by auto to twelve
police chiefs and sheriffs in central
Massachusetts.
"Chief Vollmer has thanked the
members of the American Radio Relay
League for their efficient means of
communications, and on numerous oc-
casions he has called upon amateurs to
assist in conducting experiments con-
nected with the apprehension of auto
thieves in California"