The National tribune., 1894-10-25
OF SHIPS.
u il
How Vessels Talk to Each Other Oh
1ay
the Ocean.

| Laws OF Oberon, which provides that YES
| sci desiring TO tow or receive pilot shall
| hoist her ensign.
The earliest authentic notice Of regular
! signal code used by the British Navy is
| found in the fighting instructions for the
| English fleet fitted out under Queen Eliza
| beth in the expedition against Cadiz. The
plain red ensign of England appears to
have been one of the earliest symbols made
use of in maritime history for the double
purpose of denoting the presence of the
chief and directing the conduct of his fleet,
for we read that it was hoisted to the right
or left side, as the Admiral wished the ves-
sci to engage in either direction.
The flags of the British Navy were at one
time severally on a red, white, and blue
field, and were displayed from the top of
the roysl pole of the main, fore, or mizzen
mast, according to the rank of the Admiral.
This diversity of color has long been done
away with.
The white field, with the red cross, ST..
Georges cross, and the sinister upper cor
ner occupied by the union, is now alone
used in the British Navy-the blue being
assigned 10 the reserve and the red TO the
mercantile navy. An Admiral displays his
flag exclusively at the main truck Vice
Admiral at the fore; Rear Admiral at the
mizzen. The first flag of Importance is the
royal standard of Great Britain and Ireland,
hoisted only when the King or Queen is on
board the second is the anchor of hope, for
the Lord High Admiral or the Lord Commis-
sioner5 of the Admiralty.
When a council of war is held at sea- if it
be on board the Admiral's ship, a flag is
hung in the main shrouds; if the Vice
Admirals, on the fore shrouds, and if The
Rear Admiral's, on the mizzen shrouds. The
term Jack is derived from the abbrevI-
ated name of the reignng sovereign under
whose direction the flag was constructed,
and whose signature ran, Jacques.
1t is provided that any merchant vessel
displaying colors milling those desig-
mated for the navy, except the Union Jack,
which must have a white border, or using q
pennant without authority, shall be liable
to a fine of $500, and any military or naval
officer has authority to board and seize such
colors.
Until 1862 there were no officers in the
United States Navy of higher rank than
Captain, except in 1859 when Charles Stew
art was commissioned Senior Flag Officer.
On July, 1862, David T. Farragut was made
a Rear-Admiral, and the act provided for
the three senior Rear Admirals 10 wear a
square blue flag at The mainmast head, the
next three at the foremast head, and all
others at the miZzen.r
1t was with his plain blue square flag
at the mainmast head of the Hartford that
Farragut passed the forts on the Mississippi
and captured New Orleans. Farragut re-
ceived his commission on Aug. IL, 1862,
and the next morning on the hosting of
the colors his flag was run up for the first
time at the main, when it was saluted by
the whole squadron. This was the first
salute ever received by Furraguts flag
Subsequently Farragut carried his flag at
the mizzen, as Vice Admiral it flew at the
fore, and on July 26, 1866, as full Admiral,
it foated from the main.
When the President of the United States
visits man-of-war the American ensign is
hOisted TO the main, and remains until the
distinguished guest takes his departure.
The President also has a standard, consist
aing of the coat-of-arms of the United
States on blue field, and was first dis
played at the main by President Arthur
on the presidential yacht Dispatch.
The standard was adopted in 1892 The
Secretary of the Navy has distinctive flag
of blue, with white foul anchor and four
white stars. On July A, 1890, five great
American flags were displayed on the CEN
ter Of the dome of the National Capitol,
from the tholus and under the feet of the
statue of Liberty. In 1771 Mr.. Macarthur,
who had been Secretary to Admiral Lord
Hood, devised code of signals which was
introduced into the British Navy as Lord
Howes code in 1892.
Four colors were used, red, blue, yellow,
and white, there being but two colors to
each flag, and the code provided for 20 600
signals 1t was by means of this system
that the famous Trafalgar signal was made
by Nelson.
The international code Of signals was de-
vised by the British Government in 1856
The code is made up of one burgee, or
swallowtailed flag, Is square flags and
five pennants The signal book is divided
into different topical headings by which
the signals may be known at a great dis
tance or in calHis.
AS an example, two flag signals, having
pennant uppermost, are compass signals;
four flag signals, having pennant upper
most, are spelling signals, names of men-of-
war, and four flag signals, having the
square flag uppermost, are names of mer-
chant vessels.
The question is often asked, Why does
man-of-war carry a pennant at the main
The Admiral carries flag at the main,
az INC ioiCJ
the mizzen, a Commodore his broad pennant
at the main and the ordinary Captain
or Commander of lesser rank narrow pen
nant at the main which is not to be re-
garded as an emblem of rank, but as sig
nifcant of command and that the vessel
is of a public character.
The navigation officer of a United States
vessel has charge of all flags and signals.
The National flag is displayed at the main
when the President comes on board, and
only hOisted at the main for the Vice-Presi-
dent in the event of his visiting an Ameri-
can man-0f-war in q foreign port.
An ex-President is received with the
same honors prescribed for the President,
except the display Of the National flag and
the manning of the yards. A foreign SOW
ereign or chief magistrate of any foreign Re-
public is received with the same honors
as prescribed for the President of the
United States, except that the flag of his
own country shall be displayed at the main.
A black flag is usually supposed to be
adopted by pirates;a white flag is used
as flag of truce and as symbol of sur
render; red flag is hoisted when powder
is being received or discharged yellow
flag is universally known as the quarantine
symbol; flag ut halfn1ast means mourn
ing, that a death has occurred on board o
flag Union down is a signal of distress
No vessel of the United States Navy is
oil I.