WIRELESS CALL FOR THE BLIND

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2158, 26 May 1914, Page 5

WIRELESS CALL FOR THE BLIND

'AN APPEAL THAT CIRCLED THE SEVEN. SEAS. 28.3.14.—Operators all longdistanco steamers. Ala Cape Cod. Via Poldhu. Offer commanders every ship you moot to-night's appeal for the blind, also ask overy ship relay appeal through to ships on every ocean. Tho above order was issued on a. recent Saturday by tho Marconi Company from their Strand offices in London to their operators afloat on all tho seven seas. Tho appeal with wliich Marconi's wireless men filled all the air from Tilbury to Shanghai, from Auckland to St. John's, read: King Georgo and the Blind. First wireless appeal on record. ; . King George, in opening tho new premises of tho National Institute for tho blind on March 19 wished God-speed to the appeal for books in Braillo for tho sightless, which his Majesty said would "break down the barriers shutting out the blind from the common interests of life." Tho messago went on to state that the appeal was made, to all on board British ships, and to sympathetic friends on other vessels, and asking that tho proceeds should bo sent to tho Lord Mayor's Fund. • On that Saturday night a small boy entered Marconi's offices in the Strand ! bearing the cry from tho blind. In half an hour that messago was at Pold- ' liti,- where it had to wait the hour appointed for its dispatch across- tlio 1 seas. At 11.130 (Greenwich time) on Saturday, Marconi's wirolcss men on all tho world of waters, from Iceland to tho Horn put on their steel framo hel- ■ mots to listen for long-distanco messages. First from Poldlm ami Cape Cod is given the news of the kingdoms . of tho earth—it may bo of war or of peace. Then come private messages, and after that, perhaps, some special message. Tho appeal for tho blind was a special message.