Radioing Cyclone
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Warnings
Willis Is. Operator Returns
AFTER spending six months on lonely Willis Island, Mr. F. R.
Snape, wireless operator of Amal gamated Wireless, returned to Sydney on May 6. Willis Island is a patch of sand on the edge of the Coral Sea, 250 miles from the Queensland coast. The wireless station was plac ed there by Amalgamated Wireless to enable warnings to be given of cyclones approaching the Australian mainland, Mr. Snape said that during his stay on the island a curious disturbance known as a “line squall” occurred.
This is a small rotary storm, having a whirling velocity of about 100 miles an hour and a forward movement of about 40 miles an hour. This particu lar squall missed the island by about 100 yards, which was lucky for the wireless aerials and buildings.