“A little matter of business brought me down to a neighboring town, and while I was so near I thought I would run over to Clintonia and call on my old friend, Doctor Dale,” replied Brandon. “He told me that you boys won the Ferberton prizes,” he continued, addressing Bob and Joe, “and I congratulate you. I wasn’t surprised, for I knew you’d been doing hard and intelligent work on your sets. And I can see from the conversation I overheard that you’re just as much interested in it as ever.”
“More than ever,” affirmed Bob, and the others agreed. “We’re just crazy about it. We think it’s just the greatest thing that ever happened.”
“There are lots more who think the same thing,” said Brandon, with a smile. “And I guess they’re about right. By the way, there’s an interesting thing about that radio compass you were speaking about that isn’t generally known. I was over on the other side when the thing happened, and I got some inside dope on it.”
“Tell us about it,” urged Bob, and the others joined in.
“It was just before the battle of Jutland,” replied Brandon, “which, as of course you know, was the biggest naval battle fought during the World War. The German fleet had been tied up in their own home waters for nearly two years, and hadn’t ventured out to try conclusions with the British fleet that was patrolling the North Seas. In fact, it began to be thought that they never would come out. But at last the German naval leaders determined to risk a battle. They made their preparations with the greatest secrecy, because, their vessels not being as numerous as those of the British, their only chance of success lay in catching a part of the British fleet unawares before the rest of the fleet could come to their rescue.
“But the British naval authorities were on the alert. They had this radio compass you were talking about developed to a high point of efficiency and were able to listen in on the orders given by the German commanders to their vessels. The Germans hadn’t any idea that they could be overheard and used their wireless signals freely. Now, you remember that the battle took place on May thirty-first.”
They did not remember at all, but they nodded their heads and tried to look as wise as possible. Jimmy especially had such an owlish expression that the others could hardly keep from laughing.
“On the night of May thirtieth,” resumed Brandon, “the German flagship wirelessed a lot of instructions that were heard at several places on the British coast. These were compared and it was possible to ascertain just where the flagship was stationed. The next morning the flagship sent another lot of orders, that were also heard by the British. It was then found that the flagship had moved seven miles down the river from the station where she had been the night before. That showed that the fleet was on the move. Instantly the British fleet was sent out to meet them. So when the Germans came out to surprise the British, they found that it was the other way around and it was they themselves that were surprised. Well, you know the result. The German ships had to retreat to their harbor, and they never came out again except to surrender after the war was over. That was one way that radio helped to win the war.”
“Just as it helped our aviators,” put in Joe.
“Precisely,” assented Mr. Brandon. “The Germans are usually pretty well up in science, but we put it all over them in the matter of wireless while the war was on.”