VALUE OF SHORT WAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 15

VALUE OF SHORT WAVES.

A SCEPTIC CONVINCED. The value of short waves has just been demonstrated in a striking fashion to a sceptical,critic by members of the American Radio Relay League. The sceptic was Count \' on Lucknor, who made a sensational escape from internment at Motuihi Island during the war period, i The Count arrived recently in New ! York on his yacht Vaterland, which had been equipped with wireless before it Bet out on a world tour. Members of the American Radio Relay League were surprised to find the count relied solely on the usual 600-rfietre ship installation and they urged him and his operators to test the advant ages of the short wave. The count ( and his staff were unconvinced. Finally j an American amateur, Mr G. Freisfnger, presented the Vaterland with a 50-watt ( short-.-wave transmitter and receiver. i The gift soon proved its usefulness, for ; while the count was conducting a cross- : country lecture tour, the Vaterland proceeded south to the Panama, with the countess on board, and ran into storms. I For two weeks the vessel was driven off | her course bevond the range of her 600 ' metre transmitter, and attempts to communicate with the land weve in vain. Finallv the short-wave set was reported ,to and communication was immediately j established with amateurs in California, ■who ultimatelv conveyed instructions I which saved the ship.