Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 268, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1914 — USE POTATOES FOR WIRELESS [ARTICLE]

USE POTATOES FOR WIRELESS

Italian Priest Discovers A Unique Method to Intercept Message Without Use of Batteries. Florence. —Father Alfani, director of the Florence observatory, said recently he thought that the invehtion of the priest Domenico Argentieri of the system to receive wireless messages without the use of poles or batteries was scientifically sound. Father Alfani related that after the declaration of war the Italian government forced all private wireless stations, including that of the Florence observatory, to discontinue operations. The next day Father Alfani obtained from Father Argentieri copies of official wireless messages which the priest had been able to intercept without a wireless installation. There are many ways to do this, Father Alfani explained. One of the most simple was the very elemental expedient of sticking two steel needles into a potato. < -