A TELEPHONE HOAX

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 209, 18 August 1927, Page 8

A TELEPHONE HOAX

GERMAN GIRLS LITTLE JOKE. “TALKING ACROSS ATLANTIC. ' When a buxom Frankton-on-tho-Main “tlappei” connived with a London “PBX" operator to hoax a customer, she didn't dream that her action was going to set all Germany on its ear. or that dignified Wilhelmstrasse officials would utter explosive “Donner und Blitzens” and start an investigation. The fun-lovmg fraulein was and is, employed in the Frankfort “central," says an American paper. Putting through a London call a few weeks ago for a subscriber, she learned that the transatlantic tests between England and America were taking place. When the English “central" told her that one such conversation was even then being held, the German girl had an inspiration. Would the London gir] impersonate “New York" and “kid" her Frankfort subscriber along? The conversation which followed was epochal, for after the phlegmatic Frankforter had “talked" across the ocean, he went out am told his friends. They told others. Soon the hero of the incident was being lionised, photographed, and interviewed All Germany got excited about the “hands across the sea" conversation, but telephone officials professed total ignorance of it. New York executives of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company issued a forma) denial that anv such talk had taken place. So did British post office officials. Finally the pretty fraulein confessed her little practical ioke. Now it appears that the incident will hare a far-reaching seouel. for the Fraulein’s hoax probably will result in transatlantic ’nhone service between America and Germany several rears ahead of time. Tt crystallised nublie onininn. an- 1 started scientists and statesmen and financiers to thinking about such a service.