The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-06
WEATHER BUREAU ISSUED WARNING OF MOBILE STORM Chief of Bureau Reviews Bulletins Leading Up to
 Recent Hurricane HOW INFORMATION
 WAS DISSEMINATED Reply Made to Recent Criticism of Mobile Lawyer in the Age
 Herald's Washington
 Correspondence

My attention has been called to the article in your issue of July 22 1916, under the caption, Mobile Man Says Storm Warnings Are nefficient-Hurricane Signal Hoisted at 10 a. m. and the Storm Broke at Noon," being dispatch from your Washington correspondent. begin- ming, Why does the Weater Bureau fail to warn against the approach of storms bamba. destroying lives and property, and North and South Carolina, sweeping everything before them?"
 The dispatch goes on to state that the question is raised by a prominent lawyer in Mobile, who in the course of letter to Senator Bankhead says, The hurri- cane signal was hosted here at about 10 o'clock Guly 5 and by noon the wind was on us. At 8 o'clock it was blowing at the rate of 107 miles the hour-and that only five hours after the warning" The writer further states, T think that if you would make inquiry you would find that there is an impression in this section that not as timely warning was given of the recent storm which swooped down upon us On July 5th as should have been given's <AS W0 lccl luc lllplC CooAOll llldOC py IllS article is distinctly unjust to the weather bureau in connection with its work of giving warnings of the storm that passed over Mobile on July 9th, l venture to ask space for the following statement in reply:
 FIRST. REPORT
 The disturbance that afterwards de- veloped into this storm was first reported as near Swan island in the western Caribbean sea on the morning of July ?, 1916. It moved northward, passing through the Yucatan channel on the night of the 3rd, thence across the gulf to the middle gulf coast which 1t struck on the morning of the 9th.
 Unfortunately after storms of this character leave land stations and pass into the gulf we have no means of deter mining their location. intensity, direction or rate of movement, except from such wireless reports as we may happen to receive from vessels in or near their paths Tn the case of the storm of July 2 no reports whatever from the immediate proximity were received from the even ing of July 3rd until the storm neared the coast on the morning of the 9th, and our advices on July 2, 3 and 4. were not based on specific reports, but instead on our general knowledge of and exper- fence with the behavior of these storms. Nevertheless, as will be seen from ths copies of the advices issued and herein quoted. warnings were issued well in ad- vance.
 In disseminating warnings of storms ot this kind, the bureau endeavors to give the fullest possible information concern ing their movements but at the same time refrains from the issue of alarming warnings of dangerous conditions that may not be necessary, as such warnings cause public anxiety, may involve some unnecessary expense, and tend to destroy confidence in our work Furthermore, the bureau assumes that people in expos ed localities along the gulf coast and having property interests in the menaced regions realize the significance of warm
 ngs of tropical storms and are familiar with the destructive character of these violent atmospheric phenomena. Our records indicate that our cautionary ad- vices were fully disseminated in the threatened regions s
 VERBATIM WARNINGS
 The following are verbatim copies of the advices issued by the bureau and we believe show a commendable piece of work especially when 1t is recognized that from the time the storm left the Yucatan channel until its close approach to the gulf coast the bureau received no reports whatever showing its position, progress. intensity, or other characteris- tics.
 July 2. 1916, 9:54 a. m.-Tropical dis turbance, central, short distance south of Swan island, approximately latitude 1T north, longitude 84 west. apparently moving north or northwest.
 July 3. 1916, 9:21 p. m.-Tropical dis turbance. apparently central today, near latitude 20 north, longitude S5 west, and moving north or northwest Thus far evidently not of much force.
 July A.. 1916. $50 a. m.-Belated report late Monday (3rd) night indicates that disturbance passed through Yucatan channel. No further advices thus far this morning. Caution advised all vessels in Gulf of Mexico. Futher advices when special reports received this afternoon. July 4. 1916. 1:59 p. m.-Noon. Disturb ance in southeast Gulf of Mexico, but no reports to indicate intensity or exact di- rection of movement. Probably moving northwest toward central gulf, and gulf shipping advised to remain in port until further advices this evening.
 July 4, 1916, 9:08 p. m.--Hoist northeas. storm warning 10 p. m.. Bay St. Louis to Pensacola. No information available at to location of gulf storm center. Proba- bly, near middle of gulf, moving north west. If SO, northerly winds and gales probable on middle gulf and Louisiana coast. Caution of this afternoon re- peated.
 July 5. 1916. 1928 a. m.-Change to hurri-