The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-07 00:00:00

The Universal Code of Signals.

More than twelve years ago the British Board of
Trade engaged in a work which well became Eng-
land as the leading commercial country of the world.
That work but awaits the adoption of a few mari-
time nations to be complete, for it will then be uni-
versal. The Commercial Code of Signals for the
Use of All Nations was prepared and first published
in April, 1857. It was framed by a committee
appointed by the Board of Trade in July, 1855, to
investigate the subject. Previous to the introduc-
tion of this code MARRYATT'S system was in general
use. His system was based on numerals, which
gave a range of ten flags, a number insufficient for
supplying a distinguishing signal to each national
merchant vessel as well as for communication
where the great object was to make the code
universal. Nor was the range inadequate only,
for, compared with the present plan, it was
clumsy and inefficient, although to Captain MAR-
RYATT is due a great advance in the power of sig-
nalling—an advance that has been of unspeakable
utility for many years. The objects sought by
the committee were to form a comprehensive, clear,
and inexpensive code, to embrace the greatest range,
so as to render it applicable for international commu-
nication ; to make the signal complete in one hoist ;
to limit the number to four flags, so arranged

that the nature of the communication might be
designated by the number and shape of the signs
employed. Thus two flags together, denote urgent
and important signals, three flags together, relate to
general topics of information and inquiry ; four
flags belong to geographical and vocabulary signals
and ships' names. Beyond these no signals are
required, the two Answering Pennants simply signi-
fying " yes" and " no." To obtain the necessary
range the Committee threw aside numerals in
favour of the alphabet. They estimated the requi-
site number of signals at not less than 70,000,
and set to work to secure that number by the
simplest method practicable. They found that a
range, amounting to 78,612 signals, could be given
by 18 flags, limiting the hoist to 4. The table
showing the number of communications, of which
signs are capable, is curious. From 18 flags can be
extracted in a hoist of 2-306 signals ; in a hoist of
3,-4,896 ; in a hoist of 4-73,440 ; and if an extra
flag be added to the hoist, making the number 5, the
communications swell at once to the prodigious total
of 1,028,160. The 306 communications obtained by
hoisting any two of the eighteen, being the most
simple, were used by the committee to denote urgent
and important signals. The 4,896 communications
obtained by the combination of any three of the 18,
were given to general topics of information and in-
quiry, leaving the 73,410 to signify the names of
ships and of places. Having laid down this simple
plan, they proceeded under the same influence to
mark distinctively each flag. Leaving the vowels
out of the alphabet they took the 18 consonants, and
named each flag after each one of them. This scheme
brought into use two flags more than MannYarr's,
if we except the code signal, which simply denotes
the system, being hoisted under the ensign, but can
be dispensed with when this code becomes universal.
Of these 18, one is the Burgee, four are Pennants,
and the remaining 13 are square flags. By adopt-
ing these shapes great additional power is obtained.
Thus, for instance, in signals of two flags,
the Burgee uppermost, represents " Attention,"
a Pennant uppermost " compass" signals, while
a Square flag uppermost means " Danger." When
used in the four-flag hoists, ' the Burgee or the
pennant, or the square flag uppermost, refers to
geographical, to vocabulary, or to ship names. So by
this code the nature oft a signal is apparent by the
shape of the uppermost flag. A glance at the sys-
tem laid down will show how beautifully it com-
bines simplicity with comprehensiveness. Distin-
guishing pennants are abolished, and the sailor
perceives, by unmistakeable iudicatiorts, even
before the colours can be • seen, what is meant.
A ship at a great distance runs up two flags, and
the little dots flutter at the gaff. A telescope shows
the character of the hoists—a moment's steady look
the form. If the uppermost flag be square the story is
half told, and the duty of the commander is clear ;
the signalling vessel is in danger and calls for aid.
It matters not to what nationality she belongs, the
language is universal, and will, we doubt not, be
soon understood by all nations ; and he is bound,
if possible, to give the assistance required. If the
Burgee flies uppermost the signalling ship wishes to
attract attention, but there cannot be urgency
or danger implied, and the captain is at liberty to
continue or alter his course at his discretion till he can
get within range of distinguishing colour. Thus the
first flutter of the flags before their colour is
known, and therefore_their alphabetical designation,
signifies by two clear indications what is intended :
first, by the number of the hoist ; second, by the
shape of the uppermost flag. The committee, to whom
the world owes this admirable code, was mainly com-
posed of men of nautical experience ; the three mem-
bers appointed by the Board of Trade, we regret to
say, are now dead. Besides those three, the Admiralty
appointed one, Trinity House another, LLOYD'S
Committee sent two, the General Ship Owners'
Society and the Liverpool Ship Owners' Association
each supplied one. WALTER FARQUHAR LARKINS,
Esq., of the Board of Trade, was the secretary, and
it devolved upon him to complete the labours of the
committee. The first step after perfecting the code
was to induce its general adoption, for the ocean is
truly cosmopolitan, , and any code narrowed
to a nationality is little better than worthless. We
need scarcely say the first nation that took
up the s 3 stem was the United States. In
February, 1860, the Navy Department addressed
to the commandants of navy yards an order to put
the code on board all ships in the American navy.
But that fatal war, the monster that swallowed up
or checked for years so many beneficial schemes, in-
tervened. We believe that Professor ROGERS, a
native of Philadelphia, became deeply interested,
and lent his aid in the promotion of the code.
11r. LARKINS was afterwards appointed by the
Board of Trade, at the request of the French
Government, as one of the International Commis-
sion assembled in Paris in 1861-65, upon the ques-
tion of adopting one universal system of signalling
at sea. That Commission decided upon accepting
the English " Commercial Code of Signals " as the
one best adapted for universal use, and Mr.
LARKINS was directed in conjunction with Lieut.
SALLANSISOURGH DE LAMORNAIX, of the Imperial
Navy, to revise the code. This has been carefully
done, and the Signal Book is now published in
English and in French, by Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL,*
and is edited by Mr. LARKINS.
By a decree of the Emperor of the FRENCH, this
code is directed to be used exclusively on board
French vessels and at all semaphore stations on the
French coasts. The code having been adopted for the
British and French marines, the two Govern-
ments conjointly, and through their representatives
abroad, urged its general adoption in an identical
note addressed to the United States, and to the
principal European maritime Powers. To the parent
nations was confided the task of explaining and
translating together the code with those speaking
the same language. Thus Portugal was left to deal
with Brazil, and Spain with the South Ameri-
can Republics. Tne work contains what is not
found in other signal books of modern date, a code of
distant signals fur and semaphores, and there is added
a code for boat signals, regulations for preventing
collisions at sell, the cautionary or storm-warning
signals, for night and day, giving the most com-
plete range, and embracing every requirement for
signalling under every possible position. As was
the case when the carrying of lights by steamers at
sea was some years ago established and enforced by
England and France, we find that, following
the example of these two Powers, most of the
European maritime States have already adopted the
" Commercial Code of Signals," and several are

* This publisher appeared in last Tuesday's Gazette as
a Knight in recognition of his services to maratime affairs,
were especially in e§t4li4bil3g code.

North America—
Mexico, &c.
United States
South America—
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Chili
Venezuela and
Grenada
Asia—
Malay Peninsula
Farther India
Japan....

New

4.9 4.0
2.5 2.5
8.0 8.0
3.8 3.0

1.4 1.6

1.0 1.0
2.0 2.0
8.0 8.0

China and Thibet
Northern Europe and Asia 4.0 4.0
Europe—
Germany
Austria
Spain
England
Africa
Other countries

2.5 2.5
2.0 2.0
3.0 3.0
.7 .8
1.5 1.5
3.0 3.0