252 Signor G. Marconi [Feb. 2 



fleet, and perhaps I may venture to suggest that the facility which 

 Admiral Sir Compton Domville had of using the wireless telegraph 

 in all weathers, both by day and night, contributed to the success 

 of his operations. 



Commander Statbam, E.N., has published a very concise descrip- 

 tion of the results obtained in the ' Army and Navy,' illustrated, and I 

 think it will be interesting if I read a short extract from the ad- 

 mirable description he has published : — 



" When the reserve fleet first assembled at Tor Bay, the Juno was 

 sent out day by day to communicate at various distances with the 

 flagship, and the range was speedily increased to over 30 miles, 

 ultimately reaching something like 50 miles. At Milford Haven the 

 Europa was fitted out, the first step being the securing to the main 

 topmast head of a hastily prepared spar carrying a small gaff or sprit, 

 to which was attached a wire, which was brought down to the star- 

 board side of the quarter-deck through an insulator and into a roomy 

 deck house on the lower after-bridge which contained the various 

 instruments. 



" When hostilities commenced the Europa was the leading ship of 

 a squadron of seven cruisers despatched to look for the convoy at the 

 rendezvous. The Juno was detached to act as a link when necessary 

 and to scout for the enemy, and the flagship of course remained with 

 the slower battle squadron. The Europa was in direct communica- 

 tion with the flagship long after leaving Milford Haven, the gap 

 between reaching to 30 or 40 miles before she lost touch while 

 steaming ahead at a fast speed. (This difference between the ranges 

 of communication on these ships was owing to the Juno having a 

 higher mast than the Alexandra.) 



" Reaching the convoy at four o'clock one afternoon, and leaving 

 it and the several cruisers in charge of the senior caj)tain, the Europa 

 hastened back towards another rendezvous, where the Admiral had 

 intended remaining until he should hear whether the enemy had 

 found and captured the convoy ; but scarcely had she got well ahead 

 of the slow ships when the Juno called her up and announced the 

 Admiral coming to meet the convoy. The Juno was at this time 

 fully 60 miles distant from the Europa. 



" Now imagine," says Commander Statham, " a chain of vessels 

 60 miles apart. Only five would be necessary to communicate some 

 vital piece of intelligence a distance of 300 miles, receive in return 

 their instructions, and act immediately all in the course of half an 

 hour or less. This is possible already. Doubtless a vast deal more 

 will be done in a year or two or less, and meauwhile the authorities 

 should be making all necessary arrangements for the universal appli- 

 cation of wireless telegraphy in the navy." 



The most important results, from a technical point of view, 

 obtained during the manoeuvres were the proof of the great increase of 

 distance obtained by employing the transformer in the receiver, as 

 already explained, and also that the curvature of the earth which inter- 



