The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-26

ing table, forming a section of the second
part of the code, does not appear TO be
much of an Improvement over spelling by
single letters, as four signal flags are re-
CURED In nearly every case for the letters
and groups of letters which In no case
exceed four in number This must be
used however for all words not in the
code book and for proper names, each
letter or group of letters being signalled
according to the directions given. For in
stance. to signal the name Dewey Il would
be necessary to hoist the flags CBMB for
the first syllable and CFVR for the second.
If he wished to have a council OF war with
his captains, he would signal Climb, "the
admiral wishes 10 see you as soon as con
venient" Should ne desire to signal RE
quest Capt Murphy to come here
at once" the flags used would be DHC,
Request captain to come here" CRDG,
Muir; CFBN, phi; WVK, y; HIN, at once
1t may readily be imagined that proper
names are avoided as much as possible in
signalling, and doubtless such a message
as Is specified would meyer be sent, the
signal DHC-"Request captain to come
here"-usually answering the requirements
of the case. The first sentence Is quoted
as an instance of how any desired sentence
may be spelled out and transmitted by The
signal system.
Commodore Schleys name would be sig
nailed by GLIB and CDMP, but for many
other proper names the process Of spell
ing would be long. If the commander Of
the flying squadron should wish to make
rapid change Of base, and desired to sig
nal Get under way as fast as you can, :"
MLH would be the flags shown to the ship
OF his fleet If afterwards he should de-
eide to wait until high tide the flags NILE
would instruct the vessels to wait for
high water" These few examples will
serve as illustrations of the wide range Of
the code word and the advantages OF the
system. The investigator who studies the
system carefully cannot fail to admire the
thoroughness and skill with which the
codihcation was performed, serving as IL
has with perfect satisfaction for forty
years.
Signal flags are not to be depended upon
except when their colors are distinctly Wis
ible and this Is practica BILE in general
only within moderate distance Hence
for considerable distances II Is necessary
to rely upon the form and arrangement
of the symbols used, rather than upon
coors. With this end In view, distant sig
nails comprising the three distinct symbols.
a bail, square a flag, and a triangular
pennant have been adopted. The ball
stands as the characteristic of the distant
signal, so that when that is seen, Il will
be known that the signalling is to be done
by this system, rather than by the color
proper shape may be used in connection
with 1t without regard to It's color These
symbols by changing their relative posi-
tions and using one, two, or three of each.
as may be required, form letters 10 which
the same Interpretation is to be given as
to 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 cumber-
some system of distant signals Is rarely
employed.
On the French, Italian and Portuguese
and in a few instances, on the Spanish
and Austrian coasts, there are semaphore
signals, three arms being attached 10 A.
high post in a conspicuous location. and
the positions of the arms indicates certain
letters which are IN turn interpreted py
the code. 1t will be recalled that a soma
phore station was among the objects de-
stroyed at 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 signal
stations where signals are exchanged with
passing vessels. These are a. Cape Henry
Va; Jupiter, Fla; Tatoosh Island. Wash.
and Point Reyes Light Cal. The other
stations are private enterprises and tho