Evening star., 1922-07-02
NAW'S PART VITAL
IN RADIO ADVANCE
Rear Admiral Robson Notes
Freedom Of U. S. in Com
munication Control.

The United States at this moment
has practically complete freedom
from foreign control Of radio COM
munication between this country and
others, and, furthermore, American
commercial and naval services are
exercising an almost predominant in
nuence In world radio communica-
tion. This was the statement Of
Rear Admiral ]. X. Robson, chief Of
the bureau of engineering in the
Navy, in a recent interview.
This has been brought about to
no small extent by the cooperation
and assistance Of the Navy Depart
ever since 1902 the Navy has used
radio as a medium Of rapid COM
munication, and that since 1904.
when President Roosevelt put all
shore stations. except land military
Navy had controlled all govern
mental stations.
The naval communications service
has been developed rapidly, but as
many stations as possible have been
transferred or closed, including twen-
The naval stations on the great
lakes would be. transferred If some
one else could be found to operate
them, he said. stating that these sta
tions were all institutions for the.
saving of life and property on the
lakes and could not be abandoned.
Estimated Cost of Radio.
II have estimated the cost Of main
tanning the Navy's PA coastal sta
tions for the fiscal year 1928 at ST.
1922, 1850, over 100000 less than was
appropriated last year.. Admiral
Robson stated, land have asked
Congress for that amount, as well as
on board ships" He Continued: III
now looks as If the Congress would
cut the total sum by about one mil
lion, necessitating great economies
in our program"
tions pays a dividend into the Treas
ury more, by 100 per cent. than the
amount Of it's expenses every year"
he stated Going fur fprthsr Mav into de de-
research and maintenance depart
ment explained that the shore sta
tions did not interfere with other
government or commercial services.
and that they were necessary to the
safety Of merchant and warships.
both in times of peace and war.
Today. the Navy has PA shore COM
munication stations, including 80 on
radio compass stations. 3 radio lab
oratories. 10 carrier pigeon stations
and IL super power transatlantic
stations. all of which practically pay
tial in the interests Of the country.
Earns &23,OOO Per Month.
For the first six months of the cur
rent fiscal year, naval radio stations
earned the sum of $l44.65s. an aver
age of $4,000, per month. In 1921
ns agmssr by g SeTdd due to Se ds
continuing of many wartime activi-
ties. the reduction Of Shipping Board
operations, and the elimination of
the interests Of economy. Therefore.
the earnings or savings" decreased
in 1921 some $4,000, 900 over what they
were the year previous. being only
less, 1t was pointed out.
1T is worthy Of note" the admiral
interjected. that the interests of the
United , States Navy ,.a in radio CON- ON
United States commercial interests
becoming PREDOMINANT in world radio
The Navy's net is almost world
wide and connects all the govern
ments outlying possessions with the
United States. furnishing as well a
medium of rapid communication with
our fleets of war and merchant ma
rine.
Value of Navy Radio.
Replying to a question as to what
the Navy had done specifically to de-
velop the art of radio telegraphy and,
telephony. Admiral Robson stated
that a few of them included improve
ments in facilities for secret COM
munication, increased the range of
aircraft radio sets from fifty to 500
miles and reduced the weight mate
rally. making long-range spotting
possible; developed a pilot cable for
harbors and aircraft landing fields,
increasing the safety of both water
and aerial navigatiOn: made possible
the sending and receipt Of five stimuli
taneous messages: increased long
distance speed from ten to sixty
words per minute, and made possible
automatic transmission and recep-
tion. Other work includes the de-
velopment of the kite aerial for
transmitting from a seaplane on the
water; radio compass improvements,
making radio applicable as direction
indicator and position finder; the
elimination of static and ''mush"; an
advance in the radio controlled tor
pedo and vessels and the introduce
tion of the arc transmftter and uni
wave system Of signaling.
Under ship radio equipment, Ad
n iral Robson said: There remains
to be accomplished for the next fiscal
y