Evening star., 1935-08-04
on them, at least $40 above the models
with glass tubes.

on them, at least $40 above the models
with glass tubes.
IMPENDING war in Ethiopia brings
up the possibility, though it is ad-
mittedly remote, that American or
British ingenuity may bear out the
oft-made prediction that the next war
will be reported by radio direct from
the front. 1t is known that American
radio executives have discussed the
matter with newspaper correspondents
departing for Adds Ababa, with the
idea that they might act as special re-
porters for the radio. The remoteness
Of the country and the absence Of
radio or wire facilities render it prob
lematical, however. whether arrange
| ments to relay their voices can be
made.
No community in Ethiopia has a
radiotelephone station, nor are there
any telephone connections available
with Adds Ababa. The British have
installed two direct radiotelegraph
circuits from the Ethiopian capital to
London. over which press dispatches to
England and America will be carried,
but these circuits are not capable Of
carrying voice.
The nearest telephone connection is
from Cairo, over 1000 miles away,
from which it would be possible very
easily to broadcast by speaking into
an ordinary phone and having the
| voice relayed to New York via Lon
don. The only possibility for a nearer
radio connection would be the dis
patching Of a powerful portable short
wave transmitter, probably installed
on heavy truck, and having it follow
the troops. From it the engineers
could probably make contacts with
Cairo if suitable receiving apparatus
were installed there, and the voices
could be relayed thence via the tele-
phone.
All of this, Of course, would entail
an enormous expense-involving not
only the dispatching of engineers and
announcers to the scene, but the sur
mounting Of tariff barriers with the
costly apparatus. Then there is q
question whether the Italians would
allow such apparatus to be disem-
barked and whether either Mussolini's
or Halle Selasse's chieftains would
permit them to roam freely or speak
freely.
In any case, assuming the war does
come, 1t would be a tremendous
scoop" for the radio organization
that could effect the communications
successfully-even in a country tha.
has already furnished its radio listen
ers the thrill Of hearing Admiral Byrd
and his men directly from their Ant
arctic base on regular schedules and
hearing voices from the stratosphere.
1t is assumed here that the Italian
military preparations include the es-
tabhshment Of short-wave connec-
tons for military communications di-
rectlys from the front to Rome, but
these will certainly be short-wave
radio-telegraph circuits. AS con-
trasted to voice circuits, telegraphy by
radio requires narrower bands of
wave lengths and penetrates more
ClCdII ONCI lOlIkST QlSbdHCCS.
Emperor Halle Selassie, having no
radio facilities, has no means for
worldwide propaganda at his COM
mand, such as the Italians have.
Italy already broadcasts special news
bulletins via the short waves and
during the Ethiopian compaign may
express herself through that medium
italian news broadcasts can be heard
by short-wave listeners Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 pm.
from Station 2RO, Rome, operating
on 9,535 kilocycles oil meters).
CAPT. STANFORD c. HOOPER,
who has held the post of chief
OF United States naval comrnunica-
tions for about seven years, or longer
than any predecessor, will be relieved
Of that Office August and will be-
come technical aide to the chief of
naval operations. He will be sue
ceeded by Capt. Gilbert J. Rowcliff,
formerly In command of a Battle
Force squadron at San Diego, who
has already arrived in Washington
and who will become a rear admiral.
Comdr. e. C. Raguet will continue
as assistant chief.
Capt. Hooper's new duties will place
him in charge of communications
and other technical Developments He
is one Of the Nays wireless pioneers,
having been assistant to the late Ad-
miral Bullard when the latter In 1919
persuaded the Navy Department to
urge retention in American hands of
patents on the Alexanderson alter
nator. This led to the formation of
what Is now the Radio Corporation of
America to displace the old Ameri-
can Marconi Co. as an American
worldwide wireless communications
company.