Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-17
MARCON| LISTENS
FOR MARS RADIO
Wireless Wizard Dubious, but
Prepared, as Planet
Nears Earth
DETECTS STRANGE WAVES

New York, June 17.--Tomorrow,
when the planet Mars swings. through
the point Of its orbit nearest the earth,
William Marconi will be listening IN.
itently for any sign that there may eSis.
beings there who use the radio ana ma!
be broadcasting in an effort to PICK up
the earth and other planets.
Nlarconi doesn't take the prospect OIL
talking to Mars very seriously. at least
In this generation, but nevertheless ne
is ready for the unexpected and VIII
have the wonderful radio plant when
he has installed on his million dollar
yacht Electra tuned to catch the falnt.
est signal from far away crbs.
For did not spooky sounds. possibly
originating outside the earth, come
through his radiophones during a fort
night cruise which ended yesterday!
''Do you think they came from Mars?
Was our ncighboring planet irving to
communicate with the earth!, MIR.
Marconi was asked, as the Electra
steamed up the North River to drop an
chor mt Eighty sixth street.
whence came the uninteligible voices
that spoke through his delicately ad-
justcd instruments? Yes. he admitted.
It was true his yacht had been equipped
to receive communications from any
where. from even Mars. which just now
IL closer to the earth than it has been
for nine years. But II Mars had been
signaling, she hadn't made herself un.
derstood.
| Some day. seriously announced Mr..
Marconi, the earth and Mars will talk
TO each other. provided the latter planet
is populated The distinguished per.
fector of the wireless indicated his be-
lief. however, that the monument to be
raised to the genius who first estab-
fishes contact with Mars will bear the
name Of some one springing from a
later generation than his.
Intent on Radio Progress
None Of the mystifying waves re-
ccivcd by Marconi since his yacht left
Southampton approximated in length
more than 1901 meters. which he
picked up while cruising lcisurely in
the Mediterranean last winter. That
was the most stupendous ever recorded.
Speaking of it. Mr.. Marconi reassertel
that it must have come from space
outside the carth.'
He is more interested in the develop
mcnt of the radio and wireless telcgra :
| ply as instrumcntaltics of commune
cation between individuals on our own
mundane sphere.
"Thc strange sounds I heard" re.
marked Marroni, "may have been mes
snges from Mars. I doubt it seriously.
But who can tell? In another fort
night. when go to sea again. I shall
do more listening. If Mars sends mes :
sagcs. I'll do all in my power to re-
ccive them
Aboard the Electra. which carried
more antcnnne than a thousand-legged
worm. Mr. Marconi has brought ia
America the latest product Of his in.
ventive genius. 1t looks like the off
spring of Wall Street stock ticker,
and is used to record wireless mes
sagcs. The message Is imprinted on q
tape about an inch in width. A lengthy
| logged wave Is shown on the tape
when n message Is being received. This
wave" is decoded.
Something new and very practi-
CAL" was the way Marconi described it
Another thing: Mr.. Marconi has
evolved means Of sending wireless
message 100 miles and keeping II
"strictly private" He claims to be
able to shoot 1t in direct line from
one station to another. How he pre-
vents the spark from radiating in al|
directions Mr.. Marconi did not say
Nor did he explain how 1t is made pos
sibe to prevent the message from be.
ing intercepted.
During his voyage over, which car.
ricd the inventor close to the Bermu
daS. Mr.. Marconi did much wirelcs,
experimenting. Just now he Is inten
upon increasing the sending capacity o
the wireless from eighty to at least 10(
words minute. Improved instru'
mcnts. designed to speed the sending
were tried out on the way over will
very satisfactory results.
The development of the radio. III
general use and the enthusiastic inter,
est taken in it in America are source
of qualification to Mr.. Marconi. IL
said kngland is far behind America IL
this respect. There is virtually n,
) brOndcasting in italy.
"Thc hest radio engineers are Il
America" said Mr.. Mnrconi. 9Th
country Is enthusiastic over this lntes
means Of communication. Its possibili
ties are limitlcss. Last night, ms m
, yacht was approaching your shores,
listened in with amazcment to the OK
| tended programs broadcast by station
at Newark. Schenectady, Washingto
| and elsewhere
Static, said G.. A. Mattieu. person,
assistant to Mr.. Marconi. is the "chit
hindrancc' to radio transmission. Il
, the elimination Of this, Mr.. Matte
q revealed. Mr.. Marconi has been devot
ing much labor. He will tell in n lee
turc before the Institute of Radio En-
gineers here on Tuesday how static ha
been greatly reduced by the use Of hig