MESSAGE SENT BACK BY BYRD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18937, 6 December 1929, Page 9

MESSAGE SENT BACK BY BYRD.

AMAZING EXAMPLE OF THE USE OF RADIO.

Under the landing “The Wizardry oi Radio” the “Toronto Globe,” Canada, of September 30, contains the follow ing:—

There appears to be no limitation to the amazing possibilities of radio broadcasting. Proof of this was furnished by an incident that occurred in New York last week—an incident that will test th>- credulity of those'who are not familiar with recent tremendous achievements in making the air a medium of communication. The “New York Times,” with which “the “Globe” is associated in regard to news service, is constantly extending its radio operations to all parts of the world, and using it as an important auxiliary to the usual agencies relied upon for keeping in touch with foreign events. The “Globe’s” radio editor attended the meeting in New York of radio editors from many cities, and tqok advantage of the opportunity tb spend some time in the “air” department of the “Times.” There he learned that something positively weird in its nature had Just been accomplished. The ‘Times” radio editor lives some twenty miles from the office, and while at his home he was listening in to Commander Byrd, who was talking by code from the Antarctic to the “Times.” Not wishing to be disturbed, he removed the receiver from his telephone. But an emergency arose in the “Times” office that called for his presence. The telephone exchange operator reported that the editor’s receiver seemed to be off and that he could not be reached. But he had to be reached—and at once. Newspaper staffs frequently are obliged to act quickly, and the “Times” radio' department rose to the occasion in a manner that; has set up a new record for resourcefulness and ingenuity. Byrd down around the South Pole, received this message: “Please tell Dunlop, in Brooklyn, to put up his ’phone receiver, the office wants to call him.” And immediately Commander Byrd replied from among the icebergs of the Antarctic : “Dunlop, put up your ’phone receiver; the ‘Times’ wants to call you up.” Then the radio editor called the office; and the whole incident occupied only a few minutes. Let us dwell for a moment upon this bewildering performance. Experts iri the radio business probably know how it was done, but the average man is almost shocked by the absolute uncanniness of it all. It is something like a I oronto man asking a friend in Vancouver to ’phone back to his next-door neighbour that he had left his door open. But that would be a mere matter of mechanics that every one understands. The staggering fact to realise is that this code message to Commander Byrd passed 1 through the air over countless miles of land and picked its way along the vast wastes of ocean and ice that lie-between New York and the Antarctic—sped along until it reached the one man for whom it was intended. And Commander Byrd rephed at once with the polite request that he ask a certain Mr Dunlop, in Brooklyn, to hang up his telephone receiver. There’s something to ponder over.