Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
FEATS IN SIGNALING
How Messages Are Carried by Use of
Little Flags,
BY SEMAPHORE and FLASH LIGHTS
The Telegraph Surpasses All Other
Land Methods.
But NOT SO GOOD AT SEA

George J. Narney in The Independent
ne means and methods Of signaling are
IN large degree the same in naval use az
IN campaigns we have carried on aratnst
nc SUE tribes In the wild west, and in ter
rtorial and coast surveys: so that the sys-
tenn may be equally well illustrated In
either Of these fields.
Inc regular signal flag Of these services
can be used effectively on land I'm clear
weather, at stations as far as twenty-five
miles apart il sufficiently elevated.
The form Of the flag is square. and either
black or red with a white square in the
center. or white with a central square OF
red They are made in three sizes. and
two. four and six feet square, to fl differ
ent distances.
In use. the flag is first elevated directly
above the signalman's head: motion ''one"
consists Of swinging the flag To the right,
and quite down to the ground: In motion
two, the flag is swung from above the
head down to the ground on the LETT The
hrst motion signifies the dot and the sec
ond the dash Of the Morse Geographic al
phabet.
In the night the waving signals are made
by torches, with similar movement, one
torch being placed at the feet of the signal
man, 50 that those at the other station can
perceive more certainly the direction OF the
movement OF the flying torch"
The flash light is another form OF night
signal, visible 10 an equal distance with the
torch. Tho main features OF this are a hid
den light, as a lamp I'm hoX. ana It's eN-
pcsure by removal OF "A curtain or a slide
for longer or shorter time. to signify
dashes and dots. This method has, prob
ably, larger use on sea than land. As will
be understood, any kind OF light may be
used for the purpose. from tallow candle
tn M nd aapNf oil 81.
In a clear night a candle flame can he
seen nearly mile and half; Hight ~
ter candle power. about four miles; and
one OF thirty-thiee candle power. five
miles. A power of 100 candles-which Is
the strength generally used in the search
lights of English warships-wIll with tho
aid Of its reflector, throw its beams per-
haps eight miles in clear weather, with
readable distinctness.
Talking Over High Hills.
There was published about two years ago
the exploit of two English war vessels,
which, lying on opposite sides OF a high
promontory nine miles In width. held COM
nlunication with each other by means OF
their searchlights, beams from which were
thrown upon the sky and read on the oppo-
site side of the heights. with a search
light the message may be sent by sweeping
the beam across the sky, like ths move
ment CT the torch, or by an intermitted
SpakOwsky's flashing lantern, used by the
Danish army end navy. is an interesting
form OF signal light on the dot and dash
system. 1t consists Of a closed box con-
ta'ling small spirit lamp. which in
continues lighted. When signals are TO be
made a stream OF petroleum, spray or
vapor is driven by a small bellows through
hole in the side Of the box into the lamp
flame, when this instantly hlazes up foot
or more above the box through an opening,
remaining visible long as the petroleum
blast continues. Signals by this light are
said to he readable at points thirteen miles
distant, and it has been successfully used
for distance Of four miles in a heavy
rain.
Another method OF signaling invented by
Claude Chappe Of Anglers, France just be-
fore the first French revolution, is the
somaphcre. AS made by its originator, il
consisted of a long beam pivoted at tho
middle to the side OF a post near its top.
The beam had a wing-like attachment at
each end All these parts could he placed
in different angles to each other. making
1876 different combinations. representing as
many numbers, read by means OF a code OF
numbered diagrams. A line Of these mount
ell on towers not so far apart as to render
the angles interminable was constructed
from Lille 10 Paris, and served to bring the
good news Of the recapture of the Condo
from tie Austrians in the same forenoon
Of the surrender.
The Instrument was adopted and used
throughout Europe until superseded by the
telegraph-which was introduced into
France by King Louis Philippe soon after
its successful use in American 1874.
a system of night signaling which fur
n'shes more variety than any other is that
by colored lights.
The incandescent electric lamp is very
convenient for this use, as green, red or
colorless light can be shown for dots and
dashes. and other signs, by means OF a key
board on deck.
Codes Are Safely Guarded
Each nation has one or more codes Of its
own, which also have TO be changed at in
tervals, so that If it has become too much
known through the impudence or treachery
of those using it. or by the skill OF an eX-
pert enemy. harm may not result by the
exposure OF conditions or OF plans.
In this Spanish war both colored lights
and combinations of flags have been sent
up by halyards or puleys attached to fly
ing kites or anchored captive balloons.
There is one other method OF signaling
which surpasses all others in the distances
TO which It can sometimes be used II is
the heliograph or sun-wTiter. This in its
simplest form is sometimes used by mis-
chieVous lads or lasses when they catch the
sunlight IL. a pocket mirror, or one set In
a fan, and throw a beam of light on a dis
tant wall.
In our territorial surveys and in the mill
tEry campaigns against hostile Indians IN
the west communication has been held be-
tween places very far apart by the hello-
graph. This apparatus consists OF square
mirror with an unsilvered spot at the cen
ter The smallest mirror in general use by
our signal corps is four inches square; but
these Of three and half eight and twelve
inches have been applied in experimental
VIC rk the larger ones for great distances
and misty atmosphere.
Communication by Photograph has been
held between two peaks in the Rocky noun
tains lS3 miles apart The tweINe-lnch
mirror was used on this occasion, the hello
graph fash appearing like bright star To
the eye Sometimes screen is erected 10
receive the signal with a magic IAN
tern The circle within which a hash
mile away can be seen is sixteen or seven
teen yards in diameter. the area becoming
about twice as large at two miles, ana
thus IL continues doubling in extent with
Zach mile The signals are read IN dots
ard dashes as with the flash light.
Long Wait for Good Day.
At the time this great distance was SPAN
led by mirror flash the atmosphere was
f unusual clearness. On another occasion
f long-distance signaling while surveying
he corps had watched for the opportunity
early three months before IT came. and
hey met with success-though the distance
etween the points this time but little
yer one hundred miles.
The moisture Of he sea aFr0pSDhera near