COAST ARTILLERY IN ACTION. ele zal 
previously installed. It has only one point in its favour, and that is that it 
transmits the message by letters and not words. It cannot be worked properly 
without some practice. It does not require batteries to actuate it, it is true, but 
on the other hand it is far more complicated than if it did, and besides this it 
will be impossible to do away with batteries in a modern fortress, the probability 
is rather that their number will go on steadily increasing until electricity is 
supplied like water, gas, or air, might be from a central source. 
Lastly comes the telephone. ‘This, if suitable instruments are used, properly 
designed to meet the somewhat trying conditions under which they have to be 
worked, is, I contend, the instrument ‘par excellence’ for service in coast defence 
communication. 
The pattern of instrument that has been in use hitherto, as the lecturer rightly 
pointed out, is one that was originally designed for use in the subscribers offices 
of the Paris Telephone Exchange, and for which purpose it answered admirably 
for many years, though it has now been superseded by other forms. A great 
mistake was made in introducing it into the forts around the coast, where it is 
exposed to moisture, etc., and this I pointed out many years ago myself. 
Another great mistake that has been made, and that there is still a tendency to 
make, is, as pointed out by another speaker, that because the telephone repeats - 
the voice, therefore it is supposed that everyone who can talk or hear can use the 
instrument equally well, such is far from being the case, and therefore men ought 
to be selected who, first of all, can talk clearly and hear well through a telephone 
and secondly are suitable for the responsibility of the post they have to fill. As 
regards the accuracy of messages through a telephone; if written down letter 
for letter they would probably be found more accurate than the telegraph, but 
such a course is obviously out of the question, it is however a good practice to 
repeat the message to the sender. 
I may as well preface my remarks on the subject of a suitable telephone by 
saying, that the microphone and battery are a necessity to any system; there 
being no magneto-telephone yet invented which will answer as a transmitter 
loudly and clearly enough for our pnrpose. 
Iam firmly of opinion, that if a good form of telephone were introduced, the 
objections of many officers in whose hands it has failed would be heard no more, 
and there would be an universal consensus of opinion in its favour: I consider 
that each instrument should be complete in itself, with magneto, or other call-bell 
and battery, and that it should be capable of use either at fixed stations or 
temporary ones, there being no loose connections or wires beyond those connected 
to the plug, for connecting to the line wires, which latter would be laid in the 
ground or otherwise permanently, and brought up to terminal boxes at suitable. 
places, in a somewhat similar manner to that which has been in use at the new 
ranges at Shoeburyness since they were opened ; and furthermore I consider that 
tbe instrument itself should fulfil the general conditions laid down in the following 
specification, 
(1) It shouid not be affected by damp or other atmospheric conditions. 
(2) It should have a mouthpiece over the microphone to prevent it from 
taking stray sounds, other than the message, readily, 
(8) It should be dust proof. 
(4) There should be no loose connecting wires. 
(5) The receivers should be in duplicate, one for each ear, and so 
connected that the failure of one does not interfere with the action 
of the other; the use of flexible leads and receivers, separate from’ 
the instrument, should be avoided, 
