Evening star., 1924-09-05
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

secrecy in most messages. whether
political or commercial. Radio broad
casting obviously is useless for what
is meant for the information of but
one confidant. Even the cable or
telegraphic messages. are now nearly
all in ciIher when they are of COM
mercial or political Importance.
While cipher might hide the meaning
Of messages broadcast by radio,
the added secrecy of direct and ex-
elusive Transmission Is still impor-
tant, for no cipher is proof against
discovery and Interpretation.
A single message which had been
interpreted from cipher might fall
into the hands of a spy and become
veritable Rosetta stone, as key to
the entire cipher system, betraying
all other messages in that cipher. The
Introduction of radio broadcasting,
therefore. scarcely reduces the bur
den of the cables in proportion to
its increase of tendencies of trans
oceanic communication. The introduce
tion of the sewing machine was eX-
pected to deprive the hand seamstress
of her occupation, because it could
sew a seam so much more rapidly
than could be done by hand. The in
vention of the linotype was feared
by typesetters.. But the sewing ma
chine and linotype only increased the
demand for such work as had been
supplied heretofore by hand, and
bettered the condition OF the seam
stress and the typesetter. SO it is now
believed the intercommunication
through the broadcasting radio will
enhance the business of the cables
X X 4
Two new cables are planned bv the
Western Union, to connect New York
and Germany. and supply all Of
northern Europe, as this one to Italy
will reach all southern Europe. These
three direct lines will eliminate Lon
don connections, except for British
business. Direct conections with the
Netherlands has been made by the
Western Union and Commercial Cable
Companies within the last two
years--though without the new per
malloy Improvement upon the cables
which is of moro recent discovery
No improvement of facilities be-
tween America and the Far East is
in sight in view of the political con-
ditionS across the Pacific, which
make it difficult to arrange for land
ings, and operating licenses The VOL
ume of our trade with South Ameri-
ca does not yet justify further ex-
tensions of cables. but it is hoped
that developments within the next
few years will do so, especially so far
as Venezuela and the Guianas, together
with the West Indies.
X x x
1t is we'll within the memory of
men still living when the first project
OF Cyrus w. Field to span the Allan
tic with telegraph wire laid in wa
ter more than two miles deep was
viewed as chimerical. Persistence
and faith succeeded after almost
heartrending disappointments. On
March 10, 1854, the first submarine
message, Peace on earth, good will
to man." was flashed across the At
lantic. 1t was believed then, as it is
still held true, that the more men
communicate with each other, the
better they know each other, the less
Will thes be inclined to hate Wars
VIII cease when men know the real
thoughts of others. Hence whatever
aids in ntercommunication, aids to-
ward peace.
At the twenty-fifth anniversary
uS79) of the laying of the first cable
the event was celebrated as silver
wedding" of the hemispheres Mr.
Field called upon his pastor, Rev. Dr.
Adams of Boston, to speak, and Dr.
Adams referred to the fact that he
had been pastor of both the inventor
OF the telegraph, Prof. Morse, and the
layer of the first ocean cable AL
though the system was then but %
years old, already there were 10000
miles of submarine cables engirdling
the earth.
Copyright 1924. by Paul V. Collins) ,