SHIPS IN PERIL.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 425, 1 July 1913, Page 7

SHIPS IN PERIL.

NEW WIRELESS ALARM

Mr Raymond Phillips, the inventor of the system of steering airships by wireless telegraphy, gave at St. GWorge's Hall, London, on April 4, a demonstration of a new invention which, it is claimed, will give life at sea a far greater immunity from danger. When the Titanic was lost last year, it may .be remembered, despite the presence of another vessel within a radius of half a dozen miles, her wireless signals were unheeded because no wireless operator was on duty. Mr Phillips has, it is claimed, produced an instrument which distributes a danger signal capable of cutting out completely all wireless messages passing over a circle of 50 or 100 miles radius. No matter what system a vessel may be using, the danger signal claims a preference and enforces itself upon the notice of those m the receiving ship. Should there be no one on duty m tne operating room, a syren is made to operate, arousing the officers and wireless experts to the fact that a neighboring ship is m need of assistance.

Mr Phillips had his transmitting stations upon the hall stage, while a member of the audience sent wireless signals to a movable receiving " station " m the auditorium, the due receipt of the message being notified by the ringing of a bell. Mr Phillips, from another station (supposed to represent a stricken vessel), sent out a continuous wave, which abruptly stopped the bell and substituted the tones of a powerful syren, at the same time causing two illuminated wheels to revolve.