292 WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. 



distance actually obtained, hut 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 ;it no less than 7-f nautical miles (85 land miles). 



As to the opinion which naval experts have arrived at concerning 

 this new method of communication, I 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 navy. 



As you will probably remember, victory was gained by 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 by day and night, contributed to the success of his 

 operations. 



Commander Statham, 11. 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 1 read a short extract from the admirable 

 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 flag- 

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

 reaching something like 50 miles. At Milford Haven the Eurqpa 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 starboard side of the 

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

 lower afterbridge which contained the various instruments. 



"When hostilities commenced, the Europa was the leading ship of a 

 squadron of 7 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 communication 

 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 

 , Vlexandra.) 



" Reaching the convoy at -f 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, 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 lie 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 



