TELEPHONY AT SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 20

TELEPHONY AT SEA

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 19th March. The other day an officer of the Research Branch of the Commonwealth Post Office conducted a ten-minute conversation over the long-distance wireless telephone with the officers of the steamer Belgenland while that vessel was standing off Colombo, Ceylon. The Director of Postal Services (Mr. Brown) said that this was probably one of the longest distance telephone communications yet made between a subscriber's telephone and a ship at sea. The route distance was 17,200 miles.

The Bengenland, which is on a special cruise with a party of tourists, mostly Americans, is fitted with a special long-distance telephone apparatus which has been operating on a special wiroles schedule during the voyage. The Eescarch Branch had been trying for some days to get into touch with, the vessel for the purpose of carrying out-a test, and finally succeeded with little difficulty in establishing communication.

Contact was first made with the British Post Office over the Channel in use for commercial wireless telephone messages, and with the co-operation of the

British Post Offico a call was put through to tho ship from London. The speech came through to Australia perfectly, and an interesting conversation was carried on between the Australian official and the officers' of the ship.

Most of the big Atlantic liners are now equipped with wireless telephone gear, and by arrangement with the Post Office authorities in London and New York, passengers are able to call up their offices and their homes from the special cabins that are provided for the purpose. The talk from Melbourne to the Belgenland was the first of its kind attempted .from Australia, and the fact that such success attended so ambitious a test demonstrates the progress that has been made with wireless telephony. It indicates, too, that in the near future ships on the Australian cost and travelling between Australia and New Zealand may be fitted with wireless telephony, so that passengers may have the full use of this latest facility. When times improve many Australian boats may be fitted.