292 WIKELESS TELEGRAPHY. 



distance actually obtained, but the distance at which, under all circum- 

 stances and conditions, the system could be relied upon for certain and 

 regular transmission of service messages. During- tests messages 

 were obtained at no less than 74 nautical miles (85 land miles). 



As to the opinion which niival experts have arrived at concerning 

 this new method of comnumication, 1 need only refer to the letters 

 published by naval officers and experts in the columns of The Times 

 during and after the period of the autumn maneuvers, and to the fact 

 that the admiralty are taking steps to introduce the system into general 

 use in the nav}". 



As 3^ou will probably remember, victor}^ was gained l)y the "B" 

 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 b}- day and night, contributed to the success of his 

 operations. 



Commander Statham, R. N., has published a very concise descrip- 

 tion of the results obtained in the Army and Nav\% illustrated, and I 

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

 description he has published: 



"When the reserve fleet first assem))led at Tor Bay, the Jvnn was 

 sent out day l)y day to connnunicate at various distances with the flag- 

 ship, and tlie range was speedily increased to over 30 miles, ultimately 

 reaching something like 50 miles. At Milford Haven the Etiropa was 

 fitted out, the first step l)eing the securing to the main topmast head 

 of a hastily prepared spar carrying a small gafl' or sprit, to which was 

 attached a wire, which was brought down to the starboard side of the 

 quarter-deck through an insulator and into a roomy deck house on the 

 lower afterljridge which contained the various instruments. 



"When hostilities commenced, the ^?a;'0J9« was the leading ship of a 

 squadron of T cruisers dispatched to look for the convoy at the ren- 

 dezvous. 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 conmuinication 

 with the flagship long after leaving xMilford Haven, the gap between 

 reaching to 30 or 40 miles before she lost touch while steaming ahead 

 at a fast speed. (This diflerence between the ranges of communication 

 on these ships was owing to the Juno having a higher mast than the 

 Alexandra.) 



"Reaching the convoy at 4 o'clock one afternoon, and leaving it and 

 the several cruisers in charge of the senior captain, the Europa hast- 

 ened back toward another rendezvous, whei-e 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 00 miles distant 

 from the Euro^xi. 



"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 innnediately all in the course of half an hour or 



