MESSAGES FROM MARS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11990, 29 January 1920, Page 5

MESSAGES FROM MARS.

MARCONI INTERVIEWED. United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, Jan 27. Marconi’s fascinating speculation is being keenly discussed. Mr Dyson, the astronomer, says the reception of •waves from other planets is quite possible, bnt adds that he is unwilling at present to venture further,. Marconi, interviewed, amplified his statements. He describes the sounds as very persistent when operators use waves of one hundred kilometres, which is about threequarter times the length ordinarily required for commercial wirelessing. They are curious musical sounds, often throe short raps translatable into several letters. It will presently be necessary' to emphasise that people should not jump to conclusions that the sounds are signals, as nothing in the nature of a message has yet been picked up. The company’s operators have been asked to Supply detailed reports*!

Received Jan 29, 9 a.m. United Service. .

London, Jan 28 Public interest is increasing in Marconi’s speculations, and scientists and other experts arts freely discussing and speculating. f Major MacCallum, superintending engineer at Marconi House, states that he believes the interruptions are coming too frequently to be accidental, but if emanating from the Moon or Mars, why are they comingin Morse? Mr MacCallum suggests the interesting theory that the Martians are probably In Ja more advanced stage of civilisation than the earth, and perhaps have been experimenting with wireless for hundreds of years. An extra-sensi-tive Martian record may have picked up our code messages and worked them out, as we did the German messages in the war, and they are now trying to get in touch with the earth at regular intervals. Mr MacCallum advises careful investigation and exact records in order to make certain. He adds that Mars could certainly overcome the distance with a sufficiently .powerful transmitter travelling 186,000 miles-per second. Sir Norman Lockyer declares that planetary signals are not impossible. Professor Soddy says that Marconi’s communication is obviously of the greatest interest. Professor Kuobel points out that we have no ground for believing that Hertzian waves travel through celestial space. Professor E, Maunder disbelieves in the possibility of planetary communication and favours the theory of magnetic disturbances in the sun. Professor S. Turner considers that the signals are probably from somewherein the solar system, though not necessarily from intelligent life, though he thinks it highly probable that life exists in other bodies of the solar system. Commander Sleo, of tne Naval Wireless, does not deny the possibility of a great advance in wireless which opens up a vast field for research.

M. Caville Flarumarion. interviewed in Paris for the Daily Mail, jihnle agreeing that the Marconi interruptions are possibly clue to disturbances in the sun, ados tiiat perhaps Mars has been sending off signals for centuries, we not knowing how to reply.