The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-22
SIGNALLING AT SEA
CONTINUED from Sixth Page.)

nal Get under way as fast as you can"
MLH would be the flags shown to the
ships of his fleet. If afterwards he should
decide to wait until high tide, the flags
MILF would instruct the vessels to wait
for high wafer" These few examples
will serve as illustrations of the wide
range of the code words and the advan-
tages of the system. The investigator
who studies the system carefully can not
fail to admire the thoroughness and skill
with which the codification was perform
ed, serving as it has with perfect salts
faction for forty years.
Signal flags are not to be depended upon
except when their colors are distinctly
visible, and this is practicable, in general,
only within moderate distances. Hence
for considerable distances It is necessary
to rely upo nthe form and arrangement
of the system used, rather than upon
colors. With this end in view, distant
signals comprising the three distinct SYM
bols, ball, a square, a nag and a TRAN
gular pennant have been adopted. The
ball stands as the chara cteristic of the
distant signal, so that when that is seen.
it will be known that the signalling is to
be done by this system, rather than b. the
color system, and so any flag or pennant
of proper shape may be used in connection
with 1t without regard to its color. These
symbols by changing their relative
positions and using one, two or three of
each, as may be required from letters to
which the same Interpretation is TO be
given as 20 the letters represented by the
signal flags. but the glasses used at sea,
together with the skill attained By
mariners in making out distant objects,
enable them to distinguish the ordinary
signals at so great a distance that the
more cumbersome system of distant sig
nails is rarely employed.
On the French. Italian and Portuguese.
and. in few instances, on the Spanish and
Austrian coasts. there are semaphore s.g-
mails. three arms being attached TO a high
post in conspicuous location. and the
position of the arms indicates certain let
tiers which are in turn interpreted by the
code. It will be recalled that q soma
phore station was among the objects de-
stroyed al Cardenas. But this system IS
essentially foreign, and Is not employed in
the United States. Il may be somewhat
of a surprise TO know that the United
States maintains only four coast-signaI
stations where signals are exchanged
WIKI passing vessels These are al Cape
Henry. Va; Jupiter. Fla; Tatoosh Island,
Wash, and Point Reyes Light. Cal The
other stations are private enterprises. and
the United States government does not
accept any responsibility for them. They
are conducted by maritime exchanges with
which they are in communication. report
ing - them the arrival OF vessels They
are located al Portland. Ne; Boston. Huh.
twelve miles from Boston; the Highland
Lighthouse on Cape Cod; the Highland
Lights at Sandy Hook. New York harbor:
Delaware Breakwaser, Delaware report
ing TO philadelphia. Fortress Monroe. re-
porting 20 Norfolk. Va; the Southwest /
Pass OF the Mississippi below New Or
leans. and Golden Gate. san Fra1cIsco. F.
Foreign governments maintain many
stations, ap7areatlv almost
as numerous in proportion - mileage -
The United states life-savIng stations. and .
in Great Britain ard in certain British
possessions. the Lloy5s corporation r1as-- f
.aiRs private stations r VS..
San Francisco. Jans I--Ths develop +
nents OF diphtheria and cerebro-sa.aal .
a Camp Merritt is causing
alarm There are also nun .
ser q cases Of pneumonia n the hospital. I
Arrangements are being made 20 send a
Xix hundred bed field hospital totas PHI f
2plaes under Major ". 0. owez-