"To ihe Editor of the "NonrH-CHINA Dany NEWS"
Sm,—Reasons for spotty shortwave reception (even though ranging irom a "special" Providence in. New Jersey io a "reduction in time-transit effect") are far from exhausted. "The twin illusions—large number of tubes, and new constructional principles—both contain a germ of truth. All other things being equal a good 20-tube set ought to outperform a 1G-tube set by the same manufacturer, and sets with 30 tubes—every one useful—are on the market.
Recent' advances in tube design have no doubt. improved reception, "especially on the shortest waves. Yet none of these advances has had a decisive effect, and the radioman constantly secs four-year-old sets outperforming certain of the latest products of the same manufacturer One factor mot always given enough consideration is that of variation in individual receivers, A radio consists of hundreds of parts joined together with, sometimes thousands of connections, With such a complicated apparatus absolute standardization cannot be obtained. By a series of coincidences, a set may be turned out which falls much closer to perfection than the average, or the opposite may happen. Usually nothing can be done about ssu sets, except to enjoy them,.or get rid of them, as the case may be.
More important than "new construction al principles" is the effect of age on the individual receiver. The invisible radio currents subject ihe components to very real stress and strain, and the climate has a bad effect on conducting surfaces. Thus a set deteriorates imperceptibly over a long period of time, and a new receiver may outperform one four or five years old, even though the constructional; principles be identical.
The psychological factor, should not be underestimated. For example, your correspondent Flippie receives ^as perfectly as one could desi in spite of the fact that he "is losing part of" the concert to which he is listening at the time of writing. Some listeners wish to receive one hundred per cent. of all programmes, and would be far from satisfied with such reception. Others are content with hearing two or three of the stronger stations, and never try for anything more.
"The behaviour of radio waves in space is without question the decisive factor in long distance reception. Radio waves do behave in a peculiar manner. They may induce a perfect signal in one antenna and none whatever in another apparently similarly situated. Some of their eccentricities can be explained and even used—as in the special case of WLW, whose waves are caused to jump over the city of Toronto, to avoid blanketing local stations, and come down to earth again some hundred miles further away. Many of these peculiarities are still unknown and uncontrollable. The type of soil; presence of watercourses, shorelibes, telephone.or other wires, shading effects of trees, buildings etc, all may influence the strength of signal in any one place. Other things apparently Wappen to the waves high up in pace, causing the signal received on two antennas only a few feet apart to vary greatly and nonuniformly. This fact is used by commercial telegraph and telephone companies in what is known as "dual diversity" reception in which two separate receivers on antennas a short distance apart are used, goals being mixed in the a single loudspeaker. include the "noise or disturbances from locally Operated electrical devices (usually well understood), the suitability of the antenna to the particular receiver with which it is used, position of antenna, varying, line voltage etc. The listener can do nothing about some of these things—in the case"of others a little experimenting may result in worthwhile improvement, ProvmgNcr, None ISLAND.
Shanghai, June 6 vin. cv SINS
Water for Refugees:
What 2 Hundred Dollars Did To the Editor of the "NortH-Cuina Dany News"
Sim—May I use the columns of your paper to report some of my investigations into the water situation among refugees? In my letter entitled "A Cup of Cold Water," the plea: was not meant to be taken literally as a plea for cold water. The term was used with the intention of reminding Christians of a certain Galilean's words as to a cup 0f cold water given in His name.
As we would expect, the Salvation Army. has handled the problem of water for the refugees in their camp in a manner to command admiration. "Boiling water is to a Chinese what whiskey is to a Scotchman," said Brigadier Morris. "Rice and boi water are the two essentials for refugees. en those two things, they will survive" There was no doubt "that they were surviving!.As we "entered the gate, opposite to 555 Route de Sieyes (around the corner irom the Community Church), at 8 am, yesterday morning, we mèt 900 healthy and moderately clean, youngsters march off to school. Proceeding to the boiling water stove. we saw a long line, each with his bucket. The size of the bucket made no difference, as the dipper used gave the same amount of water to each one. Three times a day this boiling water stove is going full blast, and the people get their ration of boiling water as they get their ration of rice. We might have left this camp joyously elated, but we did not. Here was a camp with spacious grounds, clean kitchen, splendid water arrangements, a mat shed infirmary and clinic, ample living quarters, and only used to a little more than half of its capacity! Equipment that would care for 7,500, and only 4,500 in the eemp! Lying close by was land that would ' accommodate 10,000 more. Memories of the pathetic plight of "Tefugees who live in the street or, "worse still who, live in the dark, dank buildings on Shansi Road, and in other portions of the Central District, came to mind. "Why don't you bring those poor folk here?" we inquired. "Because the French Municipal Council decrees that no more refugees are to be allowed," was the reply. A Municipal Council has a duty to protect its people from a large influx of undesirables, but to the lay mind it is incomprehensible that an equipment already set up and going should be allowed to lie unused while tens of thousands rot in the dark, dank buildings in the Central District! Surely, some adjustment should be worked out between the authorities of the two districts "Some of the old women in those Central District camps haven't seen the sun since last August," remarked the Brigadier.. Perhaps some of the babies have never seen the sun, we thought. And here are wide open, spaces, and sunshine, and food an water! Night in those buildings ju the Central District must be a carnival time for rats and roaches. Water seems a matter of minor importance when sunlight and room to move about is denied, but even here it is a problem. A Red Cross Visitor writes: "How do you think the people it one building get their water? From the waste pipe of a hotel," by removing a stone or so around the drain pipe!"
One of the first gifts to come in to the Red Cross marked especially for water was a gift of $200 from a lady. I was shown the camp to which this gift brought piped water. Seven shiny new taps were counted, and as we walked the length of the camp to count them, we saw a long rice line in the sun. They would be-thirsty by the time they got their rice, we thought, and although the water was not yet turned on (May 31), it was to be turned on "today," the manager said. It was a comforting thought, Another camp visited was opposite 311 Vu Yuen Road, behind Little Florist. A well-run camp, apparently: clean, accommodating 844 persons. By the kitchen stood the water wagon that brings water for cooking from the Fire Brigade. We were shown that pipes had been laid, and we were told that as they were outside the Settlement, it would take £400 or more to connect the water. "Meantime, what do the people do for drinking water?" The manager's face registered astonishment. "Whi they can go out and buy hot water. Over a hundred people in his camp Fave work." It is good to know they are so prosperous, but looking around at the children, we doubted that anyone had enough water to drink. The plight of mothers with small babies was one that stirred our sympathies.
The Red Cross has been hard at work making a survey of those camps without a supply of water. The Rev. A. E. Small, successor to Mr. Crawiord of the Red Cross Food and Shelter Committee, is attacking the problem with energy. We shall hope soon to have a report from him asto how the money contributed for this purpose is being used. Today, we happen to know that he is working on the problem of getting water containers to camps that have nothing to put the water in if it is brought to them!
IN Shanghai, June 7.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.