NOT CANALS

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 7

NOT CANALS

WRINKLES ON MAES OPINION OF FRENCH ASTRONOMERS IMPORT .ANT CHANGES OBSERVED (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) London, October 28. , The French astronomers. MM. Antoniadi and Baldet, observing from Neudon Observatory, possessing one of the most perfect European telescopes, report important changes in the configuration of Mars. Considerable variations occurred in the contours of dark areas affecting surfaces larger than France. M. Antoniadi told the Daily Mail's Paris correspondent that the lake of the sun was completely transformed, while the polar portions of the so-called Eimmerian sea had disappeared. There is little doubt that dark areas consist of vegetation for the colour changes from light green to dark green, finally to a violet shade according to the season. The supposed canals do not really exist. They are valleys or furrows across the planet’s surface.—Sun Cable. WIRELESS MESSAGES FUTILE. London, October 27. Clouds prevented the Earth receiving Martian signals, if any. Nevertheless there was much scanning of the heavens through the giant 28-inch telescope at Greenwich, but Mr Dyson, Astronomer-Royal, was unable to report success in detecting Martians. Optimistic wirelessers aided by a fourteen valve super heterodyne set with a wave range from 30 metres to 42,000 metres in order to give Martians a big choice of waves were also operating in Fleet Street, but atmospheric cracklings were the only evidence of ethereal trouble. Hopes, however, were not abandoned till midnight when Mars was actually nearest. Wireless experts opine that it would be impossible for waves of the frequency usually employed to penetrate the Earth’s upper atmosphere.—A. & N.Z. OLIVER LODGE SCEPTICAL. SENDER OF MESSAGE SATISFIED. POST OFFICE COLLECTS FOUR AND (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 28. Sir Oliver Lodge, lecturing in London, said he attached no importance to the talk of getting into touch with Mars. “We have not done so and are not likely to,” he declared. “We may get ether waves there, but how 7 will they know what we are talking about? They don’t understand Morse or English.” Nevertheless. Dr. Mansfield Robinson, the sender of a telegram for which he paid the Post Office 4/6, is satisfied that an answer came through a fourteen-valve wireless set erected at a friend’s house. “It is a simple thing which confounds the wise to get in touch with the Martians,” he said. “One must use both telepathic and physical means. I have often communicated with them telepathically ” Whether this is so or not, Dr. Robinson had the satisfaction of picking up the Post Office message. The Post Office expresses satisfaction at the collection of 4/6.—A. and N.Z.