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Wireless Telegraphy 25 home to the general public when a terrible disaster was narrowly averted on the broad Atlantic. Two liners came into collision, and one was damaged so severely that she commenced to founder. The operator upon the stricken ship at once frantically flung the emergency call, comprising the repetition of the letters “ S.O.S.,” into space. The signals were caught by receivers upon all other vessels within range, and instantly there was a hurried rush of ships from all points of the compass to the scene of the accident. Thanks to wireless, vessels came up in rapid suc- cession, the result being that a terrible nerve-racking wreck, with all its horrors and appalling death-roll, was averted. Time after time a disaster at sea has been avoided or minimised by wireless, and it is safe to assert that the Marconi invention has con- tributed to the safety of thousands of lives, many of which have only been snatched from certain death in the nick of time. The incalculable utility and value of wireless in connection with maritime traffic did not fail to exer- cise its effect upon the nations of the world. There were discussions and conversations between the representatives of Governments, and at last laws were passed by the foremost Powers compelling the installation of wireless telegraphic apparatus upon passenger-carrying ships. While these laws are drawn up to meet the direct requirements of the respective nations, they are fundamentally the same, so that arbitrariness is avoided. To-day there is not a liner sailing the seas which has not its wireless on board, so that in time of emergency the passengers and crew may be given a fighting chance for their lives.