The Washburn leader., 1899-08-19
TYPHOON SIGNALING,
WEATHER WARNINGS FROM
MANILA.
Why Their Issuance to Hong KonA
Was Observation-Disclosures Of Inter.
national Courtesy, and the Informa.
tion Was Inaccurate. g

criticism, through the medium Of q
printed circular issued by the director
Of the Manila Central Observatory, OF
action taken by the United States gov
ernment in suspending all telegraphic
typhoon warnings made by the Manila
observatory for points outside of the
Philippines. it seems proper to present
for the information Of all persons and
interests concerned a statement Of the
facts and circumstances which led up
to the action taken by the United
States authorities. In communica-
tion dated Nov. s, 1898. DR.. w. Doberck.
director of the Hong Kong observatory.
informed the chief of the United States
weather bureau that the Manila OBJ
servatory was continually communicat-
ing sensational typhoon warnings to
the newspapers in Hong Kong. and
that as this action was against interna-
tional regulations laid down for the
guidance Of meteorological authorities.
which prohibit an authority in one
country to issue storm warnings for
another country, he desired and recon-
mended that the American government
of the Philippines put stop to this ir-
regularity, which interfered so mate
rally with the work Of the Hong Kong
observatory. Acting upon the recon-
mendation made by DR.. Doberck and
approved by the chief of the United
States weather bureau, the secretary
of agriculture requested the secretary
Of war to provide for discontinuing tel
egraphic typhoon warnings from the
Manila observatory to points outside
of the Philippine islands.
The position taken by the United
States authorities was that the Manila
observatory was interfering improp-
erly with the British observatory by
sending warnings into the territory
covered by the observatory at Hong
Kong, and the warnings Of this charac-
ter should not be sent except upon the
request of the British government.
They held that as director Of the Brit
ish Meteorological observatory, having
supervision over meteorological mat
ters for the British government in
China, DR.. Doberck would not be justi-
fed in sending weather forecasts to
Manila, and that such action on his
part would with propriety be resented
by the officials Of the Manila observ-
atory. In this position they were
strengthened by the relations which for
many years have existed between the
prominent meteorological services Of
the world. The United States and
Canadian meteorological services never
presume to issue forecasts or storm
warnings for any part Of the territory
under the sovereignty Of the other. not
withstanding that they have in their
possession daily meteorolosica Qbser-
vations from obsefVatories both In the
United States and Canada. The Brit
ish government has chief observatory
at Hong Kong, and possesses chain Of
meteorological observatories extending
1900 miles northeastward, and 800 to
1000 miles southwark, and, in addition
receives reports from Bolinao. on the
Island of Luzon. In fact, the director
at Hong Kong possesses a system Of
observations which is necessary to the
issue of forecasts that are worthy the
serious attention of mariners. The
habit of the Manila observatory of is
suing storm warnings for Hong Kong
and the China coast was not only con-
trary to international usage, but was
not justified by the possession Of SUI
perior facilities for making the fore
casts. The relative accuracy of value
of the warnings issued by the Hong
Kong and Manila observatories and the
comparative scientific attainments of
the directors of these observatories
had, under the conditions presented, no
bearing upon the subject. DR.. Doberck
has by years of well-directed work and
study established an excellent service
and gained an enviable standing as
meteorologist, and is unquestionahly
entitled to the consideration and cour-
tesy which usage has accorded to d.
rectcrs of. meteorological services.