Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-08-07
Macmillan Gives
Interview to A. P.
By Means of Radio

Arlington Heights, ILL.,, Aug. g.
(AP)-News interviews by personal
contact and other ordinary domes-
tic means today gave way to the ro-
nance of radio when the Associated
Press interviewed the Macmillan
Polar expedition, 300 miles away in
the Arctic wastes.
Lieut.. Com. Eugene F. Mcdonald
of the S. S. Peaiy which conveyed
the expedition to its base at Etah.
Greenland, answered series of five
questions radioed to him by The
Associated Press from station eXN
of the Zenith Radio Corp, Chicago,
of which Mcdonald is the president.
Communication Plan
Outstanding in the questions and
dealing with the future flight of air.
plans to the Polar region from
Etah, was McDonald's reply, that he
had not yet completed "two-way
communication" with planes, but
hoped to perfect his communication.
His reply was regarded by officials
of the Zenith Corporation here as a
possible plan Of Mcdonald to COM
municate continuously with his
plans (three in number) while they
were in the air northward from
Etah. The three plans have al
ready made successful test flights.
according to reports received in this
country.
Etah is approximately 3,700 miles
direct north of Chicago. On a timo
basis II Is directly north of Bridge
port, Conn, and the expedition is
governing itself by eastern standard
time, despite the fact that the area
they now occupy (within IL degrees
of the Pole) is on daylight period
of six months duration.
9xN Picked Up
Communication was first estab-
lished last night with the expedition
about 10 o'clock central daylight saw
ing time. At that time those aboard
the s. s. Peary and Esquimaux were
enjoying a radio concert which Nc
Donald and others provided. Station
9XN was able to intercept the pro-
gram on a 40 meter wavelength of
1000 watts.
Music from a phonograph was first
heard then a ukelele and finally a
deep bass voice rumbled through the
dark night here and the station call
was identified definitely by two per-
sons-one, the radio operator G. E.
Gustafson, at a radio key, and by an
Associated Press representative. Both
men were equipped with head phones
looped into the same receiving set
station WAP-E -Etah." said-the an
nouncer. whose voice seemed to be
smothered by a snowdrift-and the
remainder of his voice was lost in an
distinguishing mumblng monotone.
shortly thereafter a squaky. then
al e. u
and finally was recognized as phono-
graph music and with clearer modu-
lation, the score o fthe selection was
familiar, but remained unidentified
because of an inrush of static which
marred further reception
Use Radio Code
Shortly yafter-beginning with mid
night eastern standard time-the ra-
dio code was resorted to with station
9XN calling WAP and Mcdonald an
swering "Okeh, Mcdonald"
1t was explained to him that the
Associated Press wished to interview
him and he readily acknowledged con-
sent.
Within 80 minutes thereafter the in
terview was complete. Five questions
and answers, totalling about 800
words, were exchanged by those
aboard the s. S. Peaery and the inter-
viewer. This established high rate
Of transmission when elapsed time Is
deducted for repeating of some radio
code which was at times indistin-
guishable.
The average for transmission rated
close to is words a minute, interna-
tional radio code
The five questions and answers re-
corded are:
What 9xN Hears
3 What point and greatest distance
you have heard or transmitted human
voice by radio would be of interest to
the Associated Press newspapers"
Il have heard code from New Zea-
land Have worked code England,
France, Holland, Sweden and Catalina
Island. Heard voice Chicago and
Schenectady in daylight. Transmitted
voice and have been reported heard in
seattle, New England and London"
Have missionaries begun using ra-
dio receivers and what do they say
about it?"
I'VE found only one missionary US
Ing radio, the Rev. Peritt, Hopedale,
Labrador, who has been to his home
in London only three times in 80
years, gets mail seldom and says ra-
dio Is great boon. l presented mis-
sionaries with sets when they most
needed them. They could not buy ra-
dio as they have insufficient funds to
buy other necessities desired"
Itookashu With Them
l. -. - T.