New Britain herald., 1925-06-24

Washington, June "A R>-An ul- timatum calling for the return of the navy contingent with the Mac Milan Arctic expedition unless navy wireless equipment is installed on the exploration ship Peary has been issued by the navy department.
 The equipment. consisting of long wave apparatus, Is being rushed to Sydney, Nova Scotia, where the Peary is anchored by the United States destroyer Putnam. Command CT Byrd, heading the navy detach- ment with the expedition has an- nounced he would refer the question to Commander MacMillan.
 Commander Byrd is on the sec ond ship of the expedition which is en route to Sydney. Both the Bow doin and the Putnam are due at Sydney today. The attendance of Secretary Wilbur was in the form of an order to Commander Byrd which said: Planes will not make flight away from vicinity of base ship un- til spark set is installed, to insure communication with planes and to give compass bearings to planes as originally agreed upon. Inform MacMillan of the departments de- cision, which safeguards planes and personnel. If these instructions cannot be complied with, arrange to land planes and personnel at Sydney for return to United States" Navy Department Peeved The necessity of dispatching the destroyer Putnam to Nova Scotia with the wireless set plainly nettled navy department officials. They were placed in the position of hav- ing their desires turned down both at Boston and Wiscasset, where the equipment was left on the docks when the expedition sailed.
 At the navy department 1t was said that an agreement reached some time ago that navy equipment should be carried. A set from the battleship Florida was yesterday taken aboard the Putnam at Wis casset for transportation to Sydney.
 As the expedition sailed 1t was l provided only with short wave ap- paratns, which the navy holds Is insufficient to guarantee dependa- ble communication with civilization at all times. Dispatches were re- ceived from Commander Byrd while the Peary was en route from Boston to Wiscasset, but after leav- ing Wiscasset no dispatch reached Washington until the arrival of the Peary at Sydney. A brief dispatch message from Commander Byrd to- day said that radio trouble had been experienced on the trip. explaining the lack of word from him. A statement by the department today said that plans contemplated the use of both short wave and standard radio equipment. Both types were held to be of vital im- portance to the success and safety of the expedition.
 The short wave radio equip ment," the statement continued, has superior qualities for long range communicating between the planes in the air and the base ships"
 Washington. June 24 Pl-Per- emptory orders have been issued by Secretary Wilbur for'the installation of navy wireless equipment on the MacMilan Arctic exploration ship Peary.
 A long wave navy set is being rushed from WiscaSset, Maine, to Sydney. Nova Scotia, where the Peary now is anchored. and Lieut.. Commander Byrd. in charge of the naval detachment with the expe- dltion. has been instructed to have 1t put into service.
 The expedition sailed with a short wave radio set installed by a pri- vate corporation. The navy de- partment said today this apparatus had developed trouble.
 It was the original intention to install the standard navy long wave equipment but apparently orders to that effect did not reach Commander 1 Byrd and the set was not taken aboard at Boston. The apparatus then was shipped to Wiscasset by motor truck, where it was again left l behind.
 A number of orders bearing on the question were transmitted by Mr Wilbur 10 Commander Byrd but it was said no reply was re- ccived, probably because the radio on the Peary was out of order. The peremptory order to install the equipment and the dispatch Of the | Putnam followed.
 II Is Secretary Wilburs under { rf pRis7v that Ton, n, a uFar Mrr