WIZARD OF WIRELESS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 11

WIZARD OF WIRELESS

frMARCONI'S GREAT WAR ■: INVENTION' WIRELESS AND AEROPLANES . Tho famous inventor of'wireless telegraphy, Mr. Marconi, whoso discoveries have done more than anythiug elso to revolutionise modern warfare,' recently returned to London from Italy with news of important and far-reacliing develop- ( ments in wireless science of. great valuo' to tho Allies. "T.bc now developments," lie told a "Weekly Dispatch", representative, "will not only'make wireless communication in this war more efficient til an ever before, hut will makfe it more difficult for tho enemy to intercept and tap messages. As you know, I am in tho Army, ami in the present conditions 1 cannot go into details, but I can tell ytfu that for ono thins the work of the wireless operators will be made easier and will require loss skill in tlto manipulation of the instruments. These improvements will apply to the instruments in aeroplanes and airships, where, of course, tho operators work under difficult conditions." Talking to the Airmen. Ono very important development was mentioned by Mr. Mnrconi which is ol' especial value to this country, which is almost entirely dependent upon,its aeroplanes for the conduct of the war in tho air. "Hitherto," said the inventor, "aeroplanes have been at a disadvantage with airships in wireless work because while they were able to transmit messages they have not peen able to receive them. This was 'bccauso the receiving n signal was 100 faiut to bo distinguished, being drowned by the noise • of the ueroplano engine. Now wo have been awe to strengthen tlifc receiving signal sufhcipntly to enable messages to be taken. "1 think we aro ahead of tho Germans so-far as the efficiency, of our'instru- . merits aro coucerncd, out we' aro certainly not ahead of them in the- organisation of their wireless systems, -that, a 6 wo know, applies to a good many tilings in this war, where German organisation, is superior. ■ But in wireless science wo have tho advantage, and tho Allies have mado enormous improvements in organisation, not only in regard to tho insido communication in each army, put also between tho armies. - ' . "Loug-distancc communication, especially between England Russia, has *bceu very much improved/ In eucouotcrs at sea tho statements iihave been frequently made that tho Gor- ■ mans have "jammed tho wireless' and ■ thus prevented messages being fffoctivcly , piif-srd between our. ships. Too much importance should not bo -attached to this," said Mr. Marconi. "It is not so serious as ono would imgaine, and it is, in fact, very difficult to prevent a message getting through. What happens is tliht tho German operators attempt to ;produce confusion. It is 1 like a lot of ;people all speaking at onco or. like the stypo in a printed page getting mixed up ho that tho matter is unintelligible. A great deal depends upon tho skill of the operators. Our operators are as'good as any, and those in the British Navy aro splendid." Mr. Marconi says that many improvements have been mailo in wireless .telephony for use in tho war. "Tho war," lu3 said, "has by no means hindered tho development of the science, and I anticipate great strides in tho commercial use <>i' wireless when tho war is over. "Subutarines can tjtill only establish wireless co-mmunicatioii when on tho surfaco of tho water. I don't say that they will, nfiver .bp able to do it when submerged,, but it has not yet been found possiblo to send'lnessagos through tho water at any considerable depth."