TELEPHONE MARVEL'S

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1921, Page 3

TELEPHONE MARVEL'S

LONG distance effects. LONDON, April 12. Declaring that the annihilation of distance is of incalculable importance to tlm fuller life of the peoples within the Empire, “The Times,” in n leading article, says that the thermionic valve, which made possible telephonic marvels, opens vistas of the Premiers of the Dominions consulting the Prime Minister > of Britain daily. “Within five months,” says Ihe Times,” “the distance over which telephonic communication is possible has |„„n multiplied tenfold, and within a little time homes, commercial houses, 1 ami the Premiers’ rooms scattered over ii t he Empire should bo connected. “Even this is only one stepping-stone, i We cannot rest until quick air tia,,s 1 port brings the Dominions and India ' dose to the life of Empire.” ! The report of the marvel achieved by ! hum-distance telephony has aroused the l (neatest interest in London, and eon- ! siderable speculation regarding its posI Abilities lias been opened. 1 The Post Office is giving expert con--1 sideration to the reports, and Signor 1 Marconi, in an interview, said that he ' considered it a wonderful achievement, ! though he pointed out the difficulties ! 0 f maintaining a telephone wire over ! hum distances, such as from England ! to India. Ho considered that wireless ! telephony would probably ho the most i suitable, and said that he expected in ; the near future to bridge the Atlantic , by spell means. Ho will leave to-mor- : T ow for Italy on board his yacht Electro to conduct experiments in wireless i telephony between England and the Meditteranoan. i The main function of the thermionic •valve is to magnify electrical effect, ■ -which in the case of the telephone i means to magnify sound. It was invented bv Professor Fleming, an Englishman, in 1904, and has been developed bv other scientists. Tho.Wa.shI iimton correspondent of “The 'limes described the marvels of long-distance telephony from his personal experience in Washington. He spoke from that j city to Havana. .»nd Catalina Island, i near Los Angeles.