12,000 MILES SPANNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17030, 15 August 1929, Page 7

12,000 MILES SPANNED

RADIO TELEPHONY INJURED BOY CHEERED CONVERSATION YKTH MOTHER (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received August 10, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 15. Jack Sigrist, an 18-year-old apprentice on a Cunard liner, fell down the hold of the Valacia a month ago, since which time he has been lying at death’s door in Prince Albert Hospital, Sydney, making pathetic appeals for his mother, who resides at Gosport, England. Yesterday, his mother was able to speak direct with a hospital nursing sister here concerning her son’s condition, as the result of the intervention of the Daily Express, London, which had induced the radio section of the British Post Offieo to place its entire radio resources at the disposal of Mrs. Sigrist, who conducted a trunk call conversation of 10 minutes, when she learned that her son had had a good day. The conversation was quite audible and created a profound impression at the hospital. During the evening special arrangements were made to enable Jack to talk direct with liis mother 12,000 miles away. Wires were taken right into the ward, and the boy greeted his mother most affectionately. She said a few comforting words to him, which the doctors think will greatly assist Ms recovery.

NO SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT BY EXPERTS (Australian and N.Z. Press Associat. on.. (Received August 15, noon.)LONDON, August 14. Post Gfficc experts, questioned on yesterday’s Anglo-Aust.ralian telephoning experiment, in which Sigrist spoke to his mother, emphasise that while interesting, it must not be regarded with any scientific significance, as such isolated successes arc frequently inconclusive.