Automatic SOS

No less heroic than the captains who go down with their ships are the radio and wireless operators who stand by their instruments to the last, tapping out distress signals. There is always the chance that another craft just over the horizon will pick up the little clicking cries that tell the name of the disabled ship, the latitude and longitude of its position. Often the rescuer will arrive in time to save those who have been dropped over the side of the sinking vessel in bobbing lifeboats. Among them he probably will not find the wireless operator who has held to his post, exhausting every possibility of communication.

William S. Thompson, Western Union telegraph operator, last week announced the invention of a device that will transmit distress sig- nals (or any other messages) automatically, thus releasing the oper- ator from his duty of signaling for help even while the ship sinks. It can be used on airplanes as well.