The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1920. EMPIRE CHAIN OF WIRELESS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1920. EMPIRE CHAIN OF WIRELESS

The publication of the delayed report of.Sir Henry Norman's Committee, which was appointed by the British Government in November last to formulate a complete scheme of Imperial wireless communications in the light of modern science and Imperial needs, marks a great advance in the linking up of the Empire by means of a. wireless system of communication. It is considered that such a scheme would give reliable, expeditious and economical communication for commercial, social and Press purposes throughout the Empire, and would meet essential Imperial strategic requirements. It requires no effort of imagination to estimate the possibilities 'of this marvellous product of modern science, the use of which during the late war fully demonstrated its supreme importance, as well as its superiority over all other means of conveying intelligence from one country to another. Two of the great lessons derivable from the war were those concerning the uses to Which aircraft and wireless could be put, and it is satisfactory to find that both these agencies are' being developed on commercial lines, and bid fair to become appreciable factors in advancing the welfare of the British Empire. The scheme propounded by the committee discards the employment of the Poulsen arcs (actually large are lamps), which are considered to generate several undesired and interfering wave lengths in addition to the desired wave Jength, and substitutes therefor the thermionic valve, a form of electric filament lamp Which has the advantage.of generating, when working at a proper efficiency, waves of a single length only. It is considered that the efficiency of valve working may be sixty-six per cent., as against forty per cent, for the arc. - The valve system, stated the committee, is undoubtedly in the line of future development of wireless telegraphy, while it costs less than the arc system to install and operate, hence it possesses the two chief essentials of commercial success—economy and efficiency. The chief countries of the Empire can be connected, both commercially and strategically, by links of 2000 miles, the advance of science having rendered it possible to produce wireless power sufficient for that range by the employment of the thermionic valves. It is proposed that the first line of communication should be with the British communities in South Africa, that for the communication with India, the Far East, and Australasia, valve stations be erected in England, near Cairo, at Poona, Singapore, Hong-Kong, and either Port Darwin or Perth; also to establish similar communication between England and Canada, the whole of the installations being carried out by the British Dominions and Indian authorities, at an estimated capital cost, of £1,243,000, producing a probable revenue of £325,000, which"it is consideredwould for the opening years show a loss of about £IOO,OOO a year, but in ten years would prove a profitable enterprise. Although it would be a more attractive project if it could be made to pay from ,the outset, the main point to be fcept in view is the provision of a reliable, expeditious and economical communication throughout tlie Ewsire. The need for this

has been long felt, and much satisfaction should be experienced that at last there is a prospect of an Empire chain of wireless becoming an accomplished fact. Marconi's scheme did not find favor with the committee, for several reasons, among which was that it would be prejudicial to the interests of free wireless research and independent development. There are obvious arguments in favor of this wireless chain being owned and worked by the Governments concerned, while the disadvantages of a private monopolyneed not be stressed. The three services in which the Empire should hold unquestioned supremacy are the navy, aviation, and wireless, all of which are vital to its security and progress, besides being arms that can act overseas and weld the scattered units into a solidarity that will stand the test of all time.