Evening star., 1940-06-16
Defense Plan Needed
For Communications,
Experts Declare
lnterloekine System
To Keep Lines Open Held
Vital; Action Likely
By WILLIAM J,sWHEATLEY.

Coordination and protection of
the United States intricate COM
munications system appears to have
been completely overlooked in cur
rent plans to bolster national de-
fense. in the opinion of communi-
cations experts.
1t was pointed out that the newly
formed Defence Commission, set up
to handle all problems connected
with defensive preparations, does
not include a division to devise
plans for keeping communication
lines open or for emergency systems
If the main lines fail.
The Army and Navy have made
plans to handle communications
peculiar to their services. but no
Government agency has undertaken
q study of the use and protection of
wire and radio services as an ad-
tunct to the military and naval
systems.
The seriousness of overlooking
this part of the national defense
has been called to the attention of
the War and Navy Departments,
1t is said, and it is regarded as likely
that a study of the situation will
be made and the Defense Com
missions work broadened to cover
communications.
While the Army particularly has
given consideration to use of radio
to instruct the. public in an emer-
gency. it was said no plans have
been formulated for co-ordinated
system of communications or for
filling in breaks that might occur
under military operations.
Illustration of Need.
The need for such a plan was
made evident by the cutting of the
cables between New York and Rome
last week. Immediately the Mackay
Radio and Telegraph Co. applied
to and received from the Federal
Communications Commission per-
mission to set up a direct radio
circuit between New York and the
italian capital. 1t did in hours what
would have taken months before the
advent of radio.
Even this instance required the
formality of applying for and re-
ceiving commission approval, and
1t is contended such Interruptions
should be filled automatically by
plan.
With the possibility, for instance,
that wire lines connecting radio
broadcast stations might be wiped
out in particular area, it is pointed
out that there should be plans
available for immediate cutting in
of radio relay stations. Such sta
tions would transmit the signals by
radio to be picked up and re-
broadcast, eliminating the need of
telephone line connections. The
importance of grouping radio sta
tions into areas, and the means for
using any particular group should
be given serious consideration, it
is said so the public could be told
what to do in the event a blackout
were ordered, or other instructions
given.
Another Need.
Another important need, it was
pointed out, is the formulation OF
a plan for prompt contact whereby
radio stations could be given orders
to cease sending signals in the event
of the approach of an air fleet.
Radio stations, having a continuous
signal, could be used as beams"
on which an air force could fly
directly to a particular area, even
in fog and darkness.
A saboteur at present could cut
Washington off from telephone
communication with the North, as
we'll as the radio chains served by
these lines, without difficulty, for
the only telephone circuits now run
along the Baltimore Washington
boulevard However, this condition
now is being remedied by the tele-
phone company, which is laying
anew and additional circuits between
Baltimore and Washington by way
of Ellicott City, Md.
A gigantic co-ordinated COM
municationS plan, which would in
Volve an intricate system for cutting
In circuits Immediately where others
fail, would require expenditure of
millions of dollars, it is said To
encourage the construction, it has
been suggested the Government
provide subsidy to the companies,
If it did not undertake actual con-
struction itself.
Broad Protection Needed.
Any scheme for the universal use
Of radio to supplant wire service
have to include broad plans for the
protection both of stations and
power supplies. In most instances
it would be necessary to provide
auxiliary power supplies at station
sites.
No less important than the physi-
cal facilities, it was pointed out, is
the training of personnel to handle
key spots.
The President now has authority,
under the communications statute,
to take over the radio and operate
the communications systems by
issuing a proclamation. 1t does not
require existence of a state of war,
but he may take such action to
preserve our neutrality, or when
there is a state of public peril, dis
ester, cor other national emer-
gency."
But, it was pointed out, more is
needed than the mere authority to
take over and operate existing sta
tions, or to close and seal others.
There must be well-studied, in
terlocking plan so that at no time
would there be interruption of serv-
ice to any particular areas in an
emergency.
Heating and Ventiloting
A. C.