A "WIRELESS" HERO

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 23, 26 January 1918, Page 10

A "WIRELESS" HERO

OPERATOR STOPS GERMAN

MESSAGES

ORUISEE CHEATED OF A COAL CARGO. Unneutral services of the grossest possible character were alleged by the Attorney-General (Sir Frederick Smith, IJ.C.) in applying to the Prize Court for the condemnation of the; steamship Edna. He s«id the vessel was chartered under the name of Jason to - a man named Jebson, who was in the German Naval Resarve. At the time of the alleged unneutral services he returned to Germany disguised as » Scandinavian seaman, and was believed to have obtained command of a German submarine, in which he perished. After the charter of the ship to Jebson, he purchased her, the ownership being, vested in the Lloyd Mexicano Societe Anonyme, in which he held the bulk of the shares. During the company's ownership the. vessel incurred liability to forfeiture by acts which amounted to direct adherence .to the German, Navy. She loaded coals' at San Francisco on the outbreak of the war, and under bonds that it would Be delivered to the consignee she proceeded to Guaymos, Mexico, where the coal was discharged into lighters. After the departure of th« vessel, which had been re-named, the coal w»» loaded on to the German cruiser Leipzig-, which, the United States Government had refused permission to coal. For a. subsequent voyage the vessel took on board stores which there was reason.to believe J consisted of wireless and gunsight apparatus, which, the Crown alleged, was transferred to the Leipzig. She also tried to communicate to the Leipzig the sailings of British ships, an attempt that waa frustrated by the resourcefulness, ingenuity, and courage of » wireless operator named Smith, who had since received a. commission in the Royal Naval Air Service.

Counsel explained how the ship, which had been flying the Mexican flag, was transferred to various companies, nnd said it was impossible to suppose that the claimant? were unaware oi the exploits of the vessel. An affidavit by Guy Duncan Smith, flight sub-lieutenant in ths Royal Naval Air Service, was read by counsel. Deponent said before the ship left San Francisco he told his father, who lived in that port, that the vessel's cargo of coal was intended for the Leipzig, with the result that information was conveyed to the British Consul, who demanded a bond that the coal would not be delivered to the Leipzig.' A German wireless operator was put on board, but he did not understand the Marconi system, and Smith shortened the length of the sound waves so that the Leipzig could not pick up the messages he was ordered to send. He refused-to send out the code D.A.N.S., and the German wireless operator made ineffectual attempts to call up the Leipzig. Threats were made to shoot Smith and throw him overboard if he did not communicate with the German cruiser. The only thing he sent to the cruiser was an enquiry as to her whereabouts, and he received an answer that she was hanging about for the Edna. Finally the vessel was commandeered by the Mexican Government.