Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-09-16


In a general way that the radio com
pass is one Of the most Remarkable
developments OF the age, really doesn'
understand exactly what II Is or VIII,
the United States leads all the worlC
| In this -uP-te-the-HiRtte aid to navi
cation. This appeared to be the case
with several members of the house
committee considering the navy ap
preparation bill. with the result thai
the following extremely interesting In.
formation regarding the use OF the
radio compass was brought out at a
recent hearing:
Representative Hardy OF Colorado :
Just what is radio compass station ?
Commander Glassford. u. s. N: A
radio compass is for the purpose pri-
marily OF enemy tracking In war. In
peace these stations are used as aids
to navigation In furnishing ships at
sea their bearings from the station or
stations, from which the ships posi-
ton may be determined. The appara-
tus at the radio-compass stations is
so designed as TO be able to determine
accurately the direction from the sta
ton OF radio emission. When a ship
at sea, FOR Instance, sends out a radio
emission from her own tFaRsmitteF,
the radiO-compass station can tell the
direction or bearing OF the ship In
foggy- weather II is very comforting
to a captain Of a ship TO know his
bearings from any fixed objects on
land Preferably radIo-compass sta
lions are in groups Of three in order
that positive check may be had by a
ship on the interrogation OF behring's
sent to him.
Representative Ayres Of Kansas:
You speak OF the ship out at sea strlk-
Ing on its key and then three different
stations, receiving the message from
different directions, being abie to To-
cate this particular ship2
Commander Glassford: Yes. sir.
Mr.. Ayres Now that is used in
what kind OF case-in the case of
vessel being lost ut sea. or for what
different purposes may IT be used7
Commander Glassford: For in
stance, when ship is making New
York harbor and she has not been
able to get sun sight or star sight.
Mr.. Ayres: On account of fogs, or
Commander Glassford: On account
of -fogs, hazy weather. strong cur
rents and so forth--she does not
really know where she Is except ap-
by dead-reckOning nayi-
cation. AS she approaches the coast,
~ a system OF signals everybody CON
.erned understands, she will request
his group, we will say, Of three
stations at the entrance
Il the hnrhOr OF New York.. nhout sif
niles apart. to give her bearings. All
hree compass stations are listening
or their signal from the ship and
rhen It is made the stations detect
he direction from which It is coming.
here is n master station of the three
rhich co-ordinates all three of those
earrings. getting the necessary infor-
nation from the other stations by
elepnOne, teleETupn OF FdulO.
Gives Service Free.
In a very short time lin about Is
econds, we will say) this master sta :
on charts these three bearings. and ,
accurate they should meet IN /
ONT. The bearings are them trHuS=
lifted TO the ship by radio dispatch I
hich gives the navigator the basis !
n determination Of latitude and 2
ngitude. This radio-compass service r
free to all mariners. !
Representative oliver OF Alabama a
the business done by those stations
Efficient to justify the expense Of
themi
Commander Glassford: The bust
IS done by our stations. sir Is Inn
,rative for the proper conduct Of the
IVY, The commercial business that =
II traffic stations do is merely incl a
ntal-for which we receive pay and d
r which we collected. as I said, u
10000 last year. But that does not, G
course, pay for keeping up the sta E 5.
ms. =
Mr.. French: You speak OF this 9TH 4
service for ships that Is free. Sup
Sc that was paid for on basis OF =
rat other nations charge for similar =
rvlces, approximately what wouldn't :
WORTH
Glassford: The system a.
'uld pay for itself. sir. o.
Mr.. French But, In dollars, what
'uld Il be worthy
Commander GIassford: The British
arge 1925 a bearing; the French, q
20; Sweden, $3.50. We gave l25.. W
, bearings during the last fiscal "a
NJ. Al the British rate, which IL le
average, thIs service would be 81
rth xIhs 2h7B0. n