Evening star., 1924-05-25

Despite the fact that the Army
world-fiight planes are not equipped
with radio receiving or transmitting
apparatus, radio aided these airmen
in their trip westward from the Aleu-
tian Islands to Japan.
The Coast Guard cutter Haida and
the Fisheries steamer Elder stood
by" along the westward route of the
Army aviators; in reality establishing
a radio chain between the American
radio stations and those of Japan.
They furnished advance data as to
weather conditions along the route
relaying their dispatches to the
planes before taking off on their
S60-mile jump.
The first aid of radio and the gov
erument vessels on the long flight
was planned before the planes left
Chtcagoff, on the Island of Attu, en-
route to kasheWabara Bay. on ia
pans Island of Paramushlru, In the
Kuriles group.
Mai Blair of the Signal Corps, who
has charge of the radio communlca-
tion for the Army and is aboard the
Haida, will reutrn to the United
states soon. Japanese and United
states naval vessels Will take up the
radio service. 1t is expected that later
on he will be sent to Labrador to
establish a system of radio communl-
cation for these airmen on their
transatlantic flight back nome.
Weather forecasts are already ar
ranged for on the Atlantic route, and
II is planned that at least one or the
Army planes will be equipped with
radio before the last leg OF the nlGht
starts from England. This Will en-
reports Ell route, and In an enier-
gency to send an sos call or trans
nit positions and progress.
Radio to Lead ZR-3.
Plans for radio communication with
the German built ZR-3. the new giant
airship of the Navy. when she crosses
the north Atlantic in early July. are
going forward through the co-opera-
tion of the United states Weatner
bureau and the naval communication
service.
station in mid Atlantic to serve as
radio communicating central between
the European and American stations
relaying messages TO ana from lne
airship all the way over. AS was
done in the first transatlantic night,
severaI station ships may be used,
in an effort to take all safety pre-
cautions possible.
The ZR-3 is equipped with Ger
man radio set, which VIII operate on
4nn meters. II Is lJldnitu IiiS
naval radio station at Bar Harbor,
Ne. will receive incoming messages
from this aircraft ond her first cruise.
The present radio equipment on the
ZR-3 is not a very long range set
but as soon as she reaches TINS couh-
trv. the Navy will install modern
high powered set, and probably spe
ciai short wave outfit such as mas JUST
been completed for the American
built ZR-l.
Club Meets via Ether.
An experiment to determine whether
n is possible to hold a club meetirs
nv radio. with all members seated
comfortably in their homes, mas oeer
tried out successfully by amateur
radio fans in the vicinity or Daiias
Tex. The meeting was called 10 oruei
by the president, motions carried az -,
all business transacted with as mucn
ease as though the members were
gathered in one room.
The idea was conceived by memDers
of the vest Gulf Amateur Fone Clup'
which organization was started re-
Gently by Dallas representatives o1
the American Radio Relay League
the national association of radio tele
graph amateurs. Practlcaily ai
members have installed radlophone
transmitters in their homes. Due tt
bad weather the suggestion was maze
that the members hold their meeting
'.in the air" Notices We're sent tC
all club members suggesting wave
length of 190 meters.
At the appointed time all member:
were at their sets when the presiden,
started up his radiephone and calico
the meeting to order. The, roll was
called by the secretary, and as thell
names were spoken, the members
picked up their microphones and an
swered present.
As each set had been carefully
tuned in advance all members of ths
club could hear everything that took
Mace. Amateurs in nearby towns haG
been invited ''to attend" and it was
Interesting to hear the voices OF
these ut-of-town members. since
they seldom had the time and facil-
tiles to attend the regular meetings
The session lasted more than two
hours and met with such general ap-
proval that it was voted to hold
subsequent "ether meetings" every
Sunday afternoon thereafter. The
broadcast listeners in Dallas have
been invited to listen in on these oc-
casIons.