The evening times., 1898-06-25
SIGNALING AT SEA.
The international Code and It's Sue
ccssfuI Workings.

I
| frequent references to Signals exchanged
between the war vessels of our Navy.
and the messages conveyed by them are
often SO long that curiosity may be
aroused as to the means for transmitting
through the medium of signals, so many
words as are involved. 1t is plain that
each cannot be spelled out by letter flags,
for that would make a string of signals
from the top of the mast to the water
and should every comon word have its
| proper signal flag. a large portion of the
vessel would have to be set aside for the
storage of the necessary bunting and
( moreover it would not be possible to
make the flags distinct and recognizable
at distance. The difficulty has been
overcome by means of the interna tional
CODE which employs but eighteen signal
flags. and this Is in general use. no, only
in the merchant service, but on war yes
seis, although each Navy has a secret
code, founded unon the same system
embracing words and phrases of strictly
naval use. and others which might be re-
quired for confidential use, such as open
fire in thirty minutes IF he comes
closer. use the rapid-fire guns and orders
of similar import.
The international code of signals was
prepared by committee appointed by the
British Board of Trade on July .. 1855 TO
inquire into and report upon the subject
OF code of signals to be used at sea.
Such report was made in September of
the Following year, and so perfect and
serviceable did 1t prove that it has contin-
ued in use without change to the present
| time. 1t has for its object the supplying
/ of means of communication between
shlps at sea, whatever their nationality.
| The original arrangement of the code
/ hAirl S-rir
: cases. it is quite practicable for any two
vessels of different nationalities, whether
| war or merchant, to communicate inteIli-
gently by these signals, even when neither
understands the language spoken by the
other, for a translation of the signals has
oeen prepared by every government and
furnished for the. use of its war and mer-
! chant navies. Eighteen consonant letters
constitute the foundation of this signal
system They are 3, C. d, f, G. ii. ],
h, l., NJ, n, p. Q. r, S, r. V and w. The
flaSs representing these are displayed in
sets of two, three and four letters each
These are technically known as one bur-
gee. four pennants, and thirteen square
flags. The frs; is red swallow-tail and
is used for the letter B. The pennants are
used for the letters c, d, f and G. The
first is white with a red spot the second
blue with a white spot, the third red
with n white spot, and the fourth yellow
and blue in two vertical stripes
The square flags signify the other thir-
teen letters used and are in color as fol-
lows: ii, white and red In two vertical
stripes; j, blue, white. blue in three hor-
izontal stripes: k. yellow and blue in two
vertical stripes; L. blue and yellow in
four alternate checks: NJ. blue with white
diagonal cross; n, blue and white in six
teen alternate checks: P, blue with white
square in center: Q, yellow: r, red with
yellow right cross: S, white with blue
square in center: T. red. white. blue. in
three vertical stripes; V. white with red
dlasohal cross: w, red square surround
ed by a white border surrounded by
blue border. reaching to the edge of the
flag.
Inc code-book itself is in two parts.
1he hrst consists of what are called gen.
eral signals and includes such words
phrases, and sentences as are commonly
required in communications by signals
between one ship and another at sea or
between ships and signal stations. ar
ranged by groups. and also of geogranhi-
ca! signals including the names of diff
ferent places upon the globe, principally
OF seaport towns and others apt to be
USED. The second part. on the other hand.
consists OF an arrangement in alphabet
cal order of words. phrases and sentences
OF part hrst. together with an alphabet
cal spelling-table to be used in making
signals for words not covered by the
code and also an alpha betical arrange
ment of the geographical signals.
Three hundred and six combinati tons of
letters can be made by using two letters
1896 by using sets of three letters, and
10 4i0 sets of signals can be made By
using Tour letters In each. making total
of 1S,642 possible conbinaticns. In apply
ing these combinations to the different
signals of the code. the two-Ietter sets.
being the simplest, are reserved for ur-
gent and important signals For instance.
the signal BID signifies what ship IS
that?" and I'D You are standing into
danger" The three-letter sets are for n
similar reason reserved for the other
general signals. BRS means "Win Won
take letter for me?" DHF. where "a
the captain?' DIV. "Is your crew all on
board?' JDK, II shall fire into the boats
If they persist in coming alongside" The
four-letter sets being so numerous are
subdivided as to their purpose. Some are
reserved for geographical signals and
others for the alphabetical signals refer
red TO in part second. Others are re-
served for the signal. ships. l. 40 combina-
tions being set aside to designate mem
of-war and 5000 being assigned to the
merchant service. The designation of
each vessel by signal is left to the govern
ment Of each nation within the limits
specified. The flags are hoisted in COM
Us MAY bc required, ana as each
signal has throughout but one signffica-
tion. nothing further is required to make
1t understood.
In order that captain may not lose
time in ascertaining the correct signal
to meet his requirements, or endeayor to
fmprovise sentence to signal when there
is one almost similar in the code that
will answer the purpose just as well, the
first part of the code is divided into sec
tions on various subjects. giving nearly
all of the code sentences with the cor
responding signal that is required spec !
flied. 1t will be remembered that the
story is told that before the battle of
Trafalgar Nelson ordered the signal |
hoisted: Nelson expects every man to ,
to do his duty" and the flag officers said
in reply to this that to display the sig
nal Nelson" would require the use Of |
several flags to spell out the name, where |
as they had the signal England" in one
nag. and suggested that that should be |
used. and so legend accounts for the