Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-22
RAD|OMEN FACING
TASK IN ETHIOPIA
American Link Success Un-
certain With Prior Tests
Necessary.

The four naval radiomen, en- route
10 Adds Ababa, Ethiopia, to estab-
lish an emergency radio station to
communicate with the State De-
partment here, are confronted with
a task of uncertain proportions, it
developed yesterday.
State Department officials explained
that while the radiomen are taking
with them "a small field set"
period of experimentation will be
necessary to determine how it is
going to work.
Whether any relay radio station
will be necessary between Washing
ton and Adds Ababa is one question
that remains to be determined. Some
radio officials believe the high-fre-
quency apparatus of the Navy will
carry well. with favorable weather
conditions, between Northern Africa
and this city. But the four Ameri-
can radiomen, who are considered
among the best men in their ratings
In the Navy, will have to supply the
real answer.
last week that the emergency wire
less will be rugged up so official Wash
ington will be able to communicate
with the Ethiopian capital in the
event normal communications break
down. The naval men will work
from the American Legation.
Efficiency of Post.
Great distances are known to have
been covered in the past with the
efficient naval radio. The Office OF
Naval Communications at the Navy
Department handles a mass of traf-
fic, not only for the State Depart
ment, but for the other Government
agencies as well. This saves Uncle
Sam hundreds of thousands OF
dollars annually.
From the far-diStant Philippines,
the kilocycles come trooping into
Washington from the Navy Yard at
Cavite. But there it is normally
necessary to have relay station
at San Francisco, SO as to give the
tired kilocycles, that have hoped
across the Pacific, shot in the
arm" to speed them on their way to
Washington. With the Office of
Naval Communications and its far
flung radio net. communication in
the Navy, to which other departments
Of the Government are entitled, is a
speedy affair.
The giant radio towers of the Navy,
located at Arlington and Annapolis,
are both utilized for sending. The
Naval Research Laboratory at Belle
vue. is used for receiving, and con-
slant experiments are going forward
there to improve reception. This work
Is considered highly confidential and
of great naval and military value.
The laboratory will likely be called
upon to assist in improving reception
from Adds Ababa.
Tanners Previous Duty.
Chief Radioman Walter Edgar Tan
ner, 81. of New London, Conn, who
heads the quartet, was on duty until
q short time ago on the Reina Mer-
cedes, the station ship at the Naval
Academy at Annapolis. He is native
of Hunnewell, KanS., and came into
the Navy in 1922.
Since 1888 Radioman First Glass;
John L. Cauthen, 26. of Auburn, Ala,
was on duty at the Naval Radio ota-
ton at Arlington. He is a native of
Auburn and enlisted in September,
1928.
Radioman Second Glass; John Will
lard Anslow, 33, was recently serving
at the Naval Radio Station at Nor
folk. He was born at Cambridge,
Mass, and enlisted in the Navy in
July, 1921.
Radioman Second Glass; Cecil
Franklin Cavanah, 81, of Ph!ladel-
phia, served recently in the Office of
Naval Communications here He was
born in Sibley. H., and enlisted in
August, 1927.
These four men will serve at
little radio station in North Africa,
which might become extremely i'm
portant to Uncle Sam should war
crackle about their heads. Out from
Arlington and Annapolis will go vital
messages to them, sent by man who
sits at transmission key in the busy
Office of Naval Communications.