§ SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that the Marconi instruments used in Somaliland for wireless telegraphy have been marine instruments, he will arrange, in order to secure effective communication, that instruments will be employed adapted for use over-land, and worked by experts acquainted with over-land conditions.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The instruments used in Somaliland were of Admiralty pattern, which has been tried over-land as well as over-sea. The naval officers and men in charge were thorough experts in their use, and were successful in establishing communications in certain cases, in one case to the extent of thirty-two miles, in spite of very exceptional difficulties. The results, however, were not, in the opinion of the general officer commanding, sufficiently certain to justify the further carriage of the instruments, which had led to exceptional difficulties of supply and transport.