Evening star., 1922-12-24
RADIONIEN TO SPEND YUIE
ON DUTY In MANY CLIMES
Interests of Nation Call for Service on
Ship and Shore, Though Some Will
Get Leave for Holidays at Home.

tlons. because conversation" in tn
ether between radio operators
strictly forbidden. in the interest O
decreased interference.
If a Navy radio man departs fror
the conventional radio signals au
thorized for the exchange OF ofiicia
communications and engages in per
| sonal conversation. he is subject I
severe naval discipline at the hand
of his commanding officer.
| If a civilian radio operator simiiarl.
Off nds. his commercial radio 1fcens
is subject to cancellation by the De
partment of Commerce. and in thi
event he automatically becomes in
| eligible for employment as radi'
! operator
spect to radio operators of all ma
tionalities. in the interest of de
creased interference in the ethel
| throughout 'the world.
Ii is a singular fact that radio op
| orators are prone to be loquaciou,
In the ether through the medium o.
| dots and daShcs Of their radio code
and this characteristic applies ever
, to those who normally are of q taci'
turn disposition.
"ORT conversation" is the conven-
tional signal broadcast by the flag
! ship if a naval radio man is heard
, engaging in personal conversation II
the ether.
The offending operator does not re-
! Quire second warning. Instead. h
becomes at his wits ends in endea'
vorins to form an alibi in preparation
for the time when he is called to tho
mast" or. in other words. when ht
is called before his commanding Off
Ger to explain his infraction Of naval
regulations.
Christmas for Radio Men.
Radiomen of the Navy at radio sta
tions on shore may spend Christmas
in cIimes ranging from those of the
frozen north up near the arctic circle
in Alaska to those where the luxuri-
GUS growths Of the tropics prevail
such as in the Philippines and the
West Indies.
They. too. perform their usual tasks
at Christmas time, the same as the
operators at sea.
They are more fortunate with re-
spect to their living conditions. how
ever. and also with respect to the
facilities available to them for the
observance of the Christmas holidays
radio doties at their stations.
Living quarters are provided for the
married operators and their families.
and bachelor quarters. or barracks.
for the unmarried men at virtually
all of the stations.
granted designated Subsistence al
lowance" which averages about 81
per man per day.
They are granted the privilege Of
maintaining their own messes and
they therefore arrange their menus
to suit themselves.
more or less elaborate Christmas
and New Year menu. depending on
the number OF men assigned to the
station and the consequent amount Of
funds available. is customary at all
of the larger stations.
Artistic menu cards are obtained
Trough the local stationery concerns
for these occasions. and they are re-
tanned by the station personnel as
In the event of the general mess
fund being insufficient to meet the
holiday requirements the necessary
amount is made up by contributions
from the operators from their per-
sonal funds
The greater number OF the Navy's
shore stations being located at iso-
lated points along our coasts and in
our outlying possessions. it frequent
ly happens that fish and wild game
peculiar to these regions are to be
had in the general vicinity OF the sta
tions.
The radiomen are usually able.
therefore. to provide through their
own efforts. during their spare time,
various delicacies for their Christ
mas and New Year dinners which are
not available to the average person
in more settled regions.
Copyright, 1927