Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-07
PROGRAMS CO ON
DURING S. S. CALL
New York Stations Continue
to Broadcast While Ship
Asks Aid.

An interesting situation that has
peculiar point 10 coastal radio broad
casters arose several days ago when
certain commercial broadcasting sta
tons in the New York metropolitan
area failed to go off the air after All
SOS had been flashed from the sea
1t was 1910 o'clock at night, and
most of the stations were in the midst
of musical and other programs. when
Naval Communications at the Battery,
New York, picked up the dread "QRT
sos" signal and ordered all
hroadcasting stopped. For 10 minutes,
while the Navy operators sought 40
establish the identity and location of
the distressed ship. several stations
remained on the air. which was so
damned that further signals from the
ship could not be disceIned.
Either the stations had failed to re
ceiye instructions TO cease broadcast
ing or disobeyed them. At WOR.
where President Coolidges speech on
he occa sion of the 150th anniversary
of the Battle of Trenton was being
broadcast from Trenton, power was at
once cut off. though it was just as he
had concluded speaking. Finally, the
Independent Wireless Co. identified
he call as coming from the British
steamship Clearton, several days out
ward bound from Baltimore TO
Queenstown.
Now, it happens that the Clearton.
according to word later brought into
port by the indignant captain of the
Hamburg American liner ReSolute,
had simply lost it's rudder and merely
wanted tow. Capt. kruse of the
Resolute said he disgustedly heard the
skipper of the Clearton tell the captain
of the steamship Olympic. who Of
fered to go $50 miles to assist if the
crew wanted to be taken of. that all
that was wanted was mechanical aid.
To flash an sos for this Is deemed
a rank imposition by mariners, who
say an auxiliary rudder might easily
have been rugged up.
But the fact that the sos
turned out unimportant does not alter
the seriousness OF continued broadcast
ing when a distress call is flashed
through the air and orders issued to
stop broadcasting. The Clearton Incl
dent has not been reported to Wash
ington, and the Communications Divi-
sion of the Navy Department advises
that broadcasters seldom fail to give
loyal support to stop broadcasting'
instructions.
One Navy official stated it was his
understanding that Naval Communica-
tons has no legal authority TO order
the cessation of broadcaSting. but re-
lies entirely on the humanitarian con-
sideration and cooperation of the COM
mercial stations. International agree
ment. he said, requires that any gross
interferences be reported to the proper
governmental agency. In the event
of such interference by a Navy oper-
ator he makes himself liable to court
martial.
While naval officials can report vio-
lations, but cannot act against the
Yiolator, there is a, law fixing a pen
atty for such occurrences, it was
stated at the Bureau Of Navigation
Of the Department of Commerce,
which administers the American mari
time radio laws. Under an act Of Au-
gust 10, 1912, known as the radio
communications law, all stations must
cease transmission and give absolute
priority to stations in communication
with or seeking to establish communi-
cation with a ship in distress. The
penalty for violation is 500 fine and
revocation of, broadcast license If re-
peated.
WRC will introduce new feature
tonight, which, most likely. will find
a permanent place on Its program
eCHG0ulCs hC dbb10NbAOA "AAA NC
known to the radio audience as the
Lord Calvert Ensemble" 1t is IL
piece orchestra, organized by Daniel
Breeskin, and will be under the direc-
ton Of Fred Stark. The soloist with
the ensemble will be Elias Breeskin,
violinist and director of the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra.
The Melody Makers-Fagan, Foster
and Cox-the first two of whom, IL
our memory is correct, starred in Nc
Kinley Technical High Schools un-
forgotten comic operas of some years
back, also will appear before WRC's
n1icrophone. 1t will be their third
venture into the ether.
WEAF, in New York, will provide
WRC with two attractions-the week
ly offering Of the Anglo.Persians and
another of the composers half-hour
series. kathleen Stewart. WEAF's
popular hostess-accompanist, and an
unnamed orchestra will be heard in
the feature, which will be in the ma
ture Of a visit with the famous French
pianist-composer, Saint-Saens.
Complaints continue to flow into the
radio editors mail bag concerning the
unusual interference first reported by
". w. Massey and the bowling re-
generative receivers. We acknowledge
communications on these subjects
from c. D. Meyer, 1419 Clifton street.
and Rev. James A. Geary of Catholic
University.
The interference which has produced
most of the criticisms has been traced
10 its source, we are advised, and
steps are being taken TO eliminate it.
Aside from a few heterodyne
whistles ideal conditions prevailed on
the wave lengths last night. 1t was
the first good night OF the new year
for radio reception.
Stations came in with clarity and
volume with every twist Of the dial.
Among them were some broadcasters
seldom heard before in Washington
and vicinity. For instance, there was
WAT, which produced a variety pro-
gram by Jersey City talent; WAR in
Norfolk, Va. and WGCP in Newark,
which laid great stress on one of it's
forthcoming features-a personal APP
pearance before its microphone of
Gertrude Ederle, the Channel swim
ner.
The signals from the North and
Middle West were much stronger, how
ever, than those to the South. which
obviously were unaffected by the
colder weather which spread over the
Middle Atlantic States. DIX listeners
had no difficulty whatever in tuning
in and enjoying the programs Of
WPG. Atlantic City; webb. VIVID
nf1 &C.