The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1920. MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENA.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1920. MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENA.

The war is over, and the world is ready—even anxious—to have its thoughts and speculations diverted into other channels. Mr. Marconi, the wireless wizard, has started a theme of infinite possibilities and indubitable novelty. Nothing short of the ultra marvellous would serve as a distraction from the anxieties and worries of the present turbulent and trying period. A possible message from Mars at once concentrates the highest intellectual faculties of mankind upon the wonders of space, the reception of coded messages from one or more of the planets revolving around the Sun, the possibility of there not being only a man in the moon, but people of both sexes, and the revival of the idea that the scientists inhabiting Mars are still trying to communicate with their like on the globe which we inhabit. Material in abundance for a seven days' wonder—or more, according to how long it will be before the prismatic bubble bursts, or the imagination of the'present day magi, 'S&llajses. AJreadg <pw: as-.

tronomers and scientists are advancing remarkable theories—or refraining from giving other than Sphinx-like non-committal statements that are confined to possibilities —as to whence come the "meaningless combinations of letters and sounds," which for some time past, even before the war, puzzled wireless operators and interrupted 1 heir work by night and by day. Periodically the subject of communicating with the planet Mars is brought into the arena of public discussion and it has even been dramatised. Mr. Marconi does not say that lie has a rival in Mars, but lie cannot rule out the possibility that another planet was trying to communicate with the earth on which we exist. He describes the sounds as being very queer, adding that from indications at night, they come from (somewhere outside the earth. So far, no responsible authority seems to have ventilated the theory that these mysterious, queer wireless waves have any bearing on the present industrial upheaval (which was suspended before the war, and has again asserted itself), or on the recrudescence of influenza. Perhaps, the connecting link is still to be traced. Why not? If these remarkable interruptions are, as is stated, in the Morse code, the puzzle becomes more complicated. But, are they? If they are meaningless combinations of lettei's and sounds it is obvious they form part of no known code, but are due to natural electrical disturbances, such as eruptions in the sun. Possibly this common-sense theory does not appeal to the super-intelligence of the modern magi, who are ever on the look-out for discovering new marvels to fit in with pet ideas. The views advanced by Major MacCullum are worthy of the renowned Baron Munchausen. He considers that the Martians may have picked up our code messages, like the Germans, and are trying to communicate with our earth at regular intervals. Surely if they picked up our codeand deciphered it—they would send intelligible, and not meaningless, messages, especially as they would only take thirteen minutes in transit. The whole business bears a strong resemblance to the atmosphere of Mars—"thin and transparent"—musical sounds, three short raps, phenomena usually associated with spiritualistic seances. "At present," states a cable message, "it is necessary to emphasise that people should not jump at conclusions that the sounds are signals." That the warning should have been deemed necessary shows the low estimate at which the commonsense of the community is held. Even in this age of aerial navigation and wireless telephony, there is little possibility of Cook's Tourist Agency organising trips to the moon or to Mars. Marconi has the satisfaction of having created a sensation, and his staff can now resume those investigations into the mysterious tappings that were noticed before the war, while otlier scientists can bring their brain power to work on the problem of magnetic disturbances and storms in the region of the sun. Science and "perhaps" are not convertible terms. "Whether we are "on the threshold of the most tremendous discovery of the human race" or not, time will prove, but, meanwhile, let sanity prevail, so that known causes may be accepted as an explanation of wireless interruptions, leaving the scientists to take their flights of imagination into worlds unknown. .Our chief concern is coal and § the cost of living.

AN IMPERIAL CLUB. There is far more in the suggestion of the High Commissioner (Sir Thos. Mackenzie) for the establishment of a great Imperial Club than appears on the surface. Much emphasis has been placed on the advantages to be derived from closer union between the Motherland and the Dominions, and if this is to be a reality (as it undoubtedly will be) there must be a central meeting place where people from the Dominions can foregather in London for social intercourse, and for business purposes. The conception of a scheme such as that outlined by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and warmly espoused by the Prince of Wales, is particularly felicitous. To overseas visitors an Imperial Club would be an ideal boon, serving many purposes which are outside the scope of the Colonial and Imperial Institutes which at present exist. The social side of intercourse is the key to all others, and in these days demands practical recognition. The Colonial Institute has done good service, and will probably have its scope of usefulness extended in the future, but it may be regarded more as an academic meeting place than as a club. The project is one that should be welcomed by all the Dominions, so that it would be thoroughly Imperial. The outlay of a million or more, if judiciously expended 011 such a desirable object, should prove of inestimable value, not only to visitors from overseas, but as a means of demonstrating that the Dominions are an important part of the Empire, and the people of the Dominions are not only as important as those -of the Motherland, but have the same tastes and desires for social and ,busiosßß iuteyeoprse. A CJgbjßrarfjiy.ipf

the Dominions would be a splendid advertisement, while the opportunity of dispensing hospitality would be of immense advantage. From every point of view the proposal is attractive, and its realisation should be within easy attainment.