Tesla is Mistaken

Marconi Says His Signals Are Due to the Atmosphere.

HE HAS RECEIVED THEM HIMSELF

Professor Fleming Laughs at the Idea of Signals From Mars.

New York Sun Special Service

London, Jan. 5. — Nikola Tesla, at Chicago, having set up the fascinating — or fantastic — theory as to the possibility of communicating with the people of Mars, the Daily Mail sought the opinion of Mr. Marconi, who is conducting experiments in wireless telegraphy near Poole, and Mr. Marconi made the following reply:

In earlier experimenta, before my apparatus was perfected, I often received signals apparently from nowhere. This was undoubtedly due to atmospheric electricity. One of the greatest difficulties has been to produce apparatus which would eliminate them, but this I have lately succeeded in doing.

I should attribute the alleged signals from Mars to local disturbances in the atmosphere.

Professor Fleming, F. R. S., of University college, laughed at the idea of communicating with Mars, even if there are any people there:

Is this idea taken seriously? I am afraid that Tesla has been led away by his own imagination. It is difficult, of course, to say anything is beyond the ultimate reach of science, hut at present I should say that the people of Mars are.