The March of Science.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 July 1910, Page 4

The March of Science.

WT.-RETiESS CHRONOLOGY

Acting upon the suggestion, of two mum hers of a scientific society, Captain Giuyoii and M. de la Gyre, the French Government is nmv «q)eritneiiting with- a scheme for supplying all chronometers-at sea with the time at noon, eight o'clock a*t night, and at midnight by means of wirless messages from the Eiffel To.wer. The first trial took place recently with ships at Brest. Three sparks aro transmitted at into-rvalf. of two minutes each. Thus, fon< instance, one is giv<Mi at eight o'clock precisely, a second at Bhr 2min, and n third «t Bbr 4min. The same met'hod is to be followed at noon and at midnight. Arrangements have been made for the regular transmission of the time at midniqlit. Captains at sea, therefore, provided wfth wireless receivers, will be able to regulate theiir chroiiometers whenever they require. A clock, furthermore, specially prepared for this purp'Ovse, is to be sot going on the Eiffel Tower to transmit the time, second by second, by wireless flashes, so thalt longitude may bo computed almost instantaneously at sea on ships provided with wireless apparatus. The advun'tn-gos of this procedure in cloudy or foggy weather will be enormous, especially in places where there are irregular currents, and ships in that case will at 'once be warned if ithey are drifting out of their course. The now "wireless" will also be used hereafter to determine the ifMigit'.ide of various on the Continent, and of wireless stations in Africa. The Eiffel Tower, in fact, is alreadv in vennfo' , -a;-'~" n,.._i._i: ui. r>,iK!H-, Port Mi lino, and Rufisnue, on tihe Atlantic coast of Xlorth-Wesfc Africa, as well as with tlie Canary ■Jslan'r'ls, nnd with Bizerta and Oran on the Mediitmrji'iiean coast. In rt short time it is'expected .that several po.eifp in th« interior of Africa, such as Aibocher and Loan go, nnd Brazzaville, farther south, will bo in resrii'lar wireless communication with Paris.