"THEY ALSO SERVE."

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1915, Page 10

"THEY ALSO SERVE."

WIRELESS OPERATORS. IMPORTAMI' PARTS IN WAR AND PEACE.

Among the immense happenings of these stirring days there is an army of young men performing a duty of im- ] menso value to the "British Empire, ajidi when occasion arises each individual isi proving himself a true Britisher, upholding the tradition of t'he seas and what lias recently become known as the Marconi tradition. These young men; — few are over 29 yeaj'3 of age, and many in t)he early twenties—are in charge of the MaTconi stations on board British merchant ships, and, all told, they number about two thousand. Thoir life is one which attracts the best t'.vpo of Britishar throughout the Empire, for it demands skill with technical knowledge and discipline, and gives world-wide travel, broad experience and the honor of belonging to a body of men who have proved their claim to the "Marconi tradition." In the days of peace, the life embraced all those elements, and the British Marconi operator lias never been found wanting in the hour of trial. Readers will recollect the splendid heroism and devotion to duty shown by Jack Binns on board the sinking Republic,'' Jack Phillips, of the Titanic, tho operators of the' illfated Empr.»3 of.lreland, the burning Volturno, and numerous others, who have offered their lives to call assistance for men, women and children in peril on tlio sea.

Since the outbreak of this world-wide war, t'he Marconi op orator 'lias played a part of greater importance to the nation. The British mercantile marine is one of the most vital factors in the life of the Empire, and to t'he cause of the Allies in the present struggle. Silently and faithfully the men of the mercantile marine have tarried commerce across the seas and troops and munitions from the four comers of the earth. Their perils ha.ve been great, but their devotion to duty has been no less thap that nf the man in the trenches.

The Maiconi operator has done a valuable work in safeguarding merchant ships iigainst the danger of pirate cruisers, submarines and minefields, as well as the ordinary risks of navigation. Hundreds of them have been called from their regular duties to sgrve in the Royal Navy, with wireless field stations in the Army and on aircraft. The story of theis experience would fill chapters of thrilling adjenture. Three operators trom the mercantile marine lost their lives when the Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue were sunk in the North Sea.. Another, who had apertt years on trans-Atlantic liners i was in charge of the Falkland Islands station and played an important part in the fight between Admirals Sturdee and Von Spec. The two operators of the Lusitania stuck to -their posts until the last moment and just managed to dive overboard'as the ship went down. Similar instances can be quoted in the cases of. the Bayano, Falaba, Arabic, Hesperian and othor victims of German piracy. There is the story of Operator E, T. Shrimpton, who was saved from the wreck of the Cobequid in the Bay of Fund, fnd some time later was in charge of the Marooni station on board s.s. Kaipara when she was sunk by a German submarine. After Shrimpton reached England he was sent in charge of the station on board s.s. Drumoree. On heir second voyage the Drumcree was torpedoed and shelled by a German submarine. The wireless cabin and apparatus were wrecked by a shell while the operator wa3 wiling for assistance. The last news of this man states that he was once more in England recovering from a scalp wound. Another man's experiences are worth xel&ting. 0. R. P. Coats was Marconi operator on the s.s. City of Sydney, which was wrecked outside Halifax, Nova Scotia. All hands were saved as a result of the distress calls sent out by Coats. Some time later this operator was employed on a trans-Atlantic steamer which had to put into Hull as a result of the collision. He was transferred to the s.s. Morwenna which, shortly afterwards, was the victim of a collision and had to return for repairs. - After putting to sea once more the Morwenna called at Cardiff for hunker coal, but soon after Veaving Cardiff the Morwenna, encountered a piratical submarine. The captain endeavored to escape with Ma ship and, at the same | time, ordered the operator to call for assistance. The Moirwenma's decks were swept by shells which killed-one member of the crew and injured others, The Marconi cabin was smashed, but, fortunately, Coats had just left to deliver a message to the captain. Finally, the ship was sent to the bottom by a torpedo. The crew took to the boats and were picked up by a Belgian trawler, w.h teli steamed to their rescue though a hail of shell from the submarine. Such instances as these, and that of the famous signal which brought about the destunction of the Emden, show how valuable are the duties of the Marconi operator at sea. These men a,re carefully selected by the Marconi Company and its associated companies, and go through a long period of training before they tuke active duty. Large numbers have volußteered for active service with the Expeditionary Forces, but unless they are needed for naval or military wireless telegraphy they are reminded that they serve their King and country better by continuing their work in the mercantile marine.

Hie Australian. Naval Board has "iven authority for special service cards to be issued to all operators, who sien an undertaking to continue their present work or to join the lighting forces if called upon.