CABLE v. BEAM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 5 December 1927, Page 5

CABLE v. BEAM

SUPREMACY OF WIRELESS INVULNERABLE IN WARTIME. STATEMENT BY MARCONI. IBy Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.] 4 (Received 5, 9.5 a.m.) London, Dec. 4. A statement by Senator Marconi, points out that the company was not invited to participate in discussions between the Government and the cable companies. Senator Marconi discloses that the company is shortly inaugurating an American beam and deprecates the talk that war might injure wireless, but he agrees that wireiess will be fatal to the cables owing to the present cheapness of installing and operating tne beam. When facsimile transmission is perfected, he says a substantial reduction in operation costs and rates is certain, and therefore tiie standardisation of rates mid the restriction: of wireless to a minor role would keep up the rates. 'Hie statement draws attention to the vulnerability of the cable in wartime, Britain cutting all German cables and Germany cutting the British Pacific lino tor six months, but the German wireless from Narren continued throughout the war. The statement adds that in the event of war in the Pacific, naval preponderance could not prevent the cutting 0.a.ll the Australian cables while only enemy occupation of British territory could stop the wireless. The statement emphasises that fading will be overcome and the present effects of it will be avoidable if Empire wireless is worked as a unit and scattered parts are linked up with the beams. Senatore Marconi is prepared to submit a scheme on these lines and is also prepared to co-operate with the cables, providing the development of wireless is unrestricted.— (A. and N.Z.) Brief reference to ti e discussions referred to bv Senator Marconi was cabled on Saturday. The cable stated that the Eastern Telegraph Companies have announced, in reply to the many inquiries made regarding the fluctuations of market quotations of cable stocks, that the position of the relation between radio and cable services is under consideration between the Government and the Eastern Companies.