El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-04
NEW BUREAU IS
SHIPS FRIEND
Information Board Of Ship
ping Gets and Gives Out
News Of All Vessels.

New York. June THE establish
ment Of a government controlled bu-
.reau Of shipping Information.
through which maritime interests Of
the United States are advised daily
through official sources and without
cost. is an outgrowth OF one Of the
activities Of the navy department dur
ing the war
This bureau, conducted by what ie
known as the naval communica tons
service. was instituted shortly after
this country entered the conflict lt
was made necessary FOR the reason
that prior TO that time there was no
organized branch Of the government
through which the movement or
ships could be obtained on short no
tice. The demands Of the navy and
war departments. the United states
shipping board and allied war inter-
ests reuired that there be at hand
at all times a carefully revised record
of an ships not alone OF their move
ments. but details as 20 their ton
rage. speed. specifications as 20 build.
Under the direction OF a naval Of
ficer. with assistants recruited from
the marine departments OF press as
sociations. daily and marine publica-
tons. etc. the bureau was established
and arrangements We're at once made
for prompt and reliable dispatches
from all parts OF the world concern
ing ship movements. this service en-
bracing not only the facilities offtne
telegraph and cable, but the govern
ment controlled wireless as well.
Its value during the war was ines
Unable. and, with the coming Of peace
and the efforts TO build up IN this
country an efficient merchant marine.
the bureau was thrown open TO the
public-and particularly 10 the ship
owners. charters. shippers. insurance
interests and maritime business gen
orally. the facilities Of its vast and
far reaching service
Keep Track Of ships
BY means OF a card index question
relating 70 any shin can be promptly
ansWered-and reliable Information
as TO her sailing date. estimated time
cation at sea or in port can be read
iiy given.
Tt is a service which prior 10 the
war was maintained In similar man
ner by many Of the foreign maritime
nations=some Of them much smalleE
and having far less ships than did
this country. With large merchant
marine. such as this country appar-
emily desires. the value OF such
service. marine men say. is unues-
toned
The naval communication service
employs about $50 persons an ln
navy uniform and under direction OF
Lieut. Commander r. 3. Coitman- Y
issues daily. and distributes 1ree OF
cost 10 more than 500 shipping firms
maritime exchanges. etc bulletin
OF AS PAGES carrying the names OF
more than 1900 vessels each name
showing nationality. tonnage. locA-
ton OF sailing date ENidenclne the
demand for this Information she CIR
cuIafiou OF the bulletin IS inereasins
rapidly Between the hours OF issue
the bureau keeps owners advised nf
telephone Of radio messages sent from
ships at sea
Has Many Sources.
The practical sources Of informal On
from which he bulletin a-ulres rs
data are daily reports by telegraph
and cable from naval officers at ports
In the United States and from attaches
in foreign countries daily reports
from the bureau or operations OF the
United states navy and offices or the
naval intelligence bureau. daily re-
ports Except Sunday from the Brlt-
ish ministry Of shipping Information
from steans MP com pai.1s7
and agents. Associated press Eele-
grams the Lloyds' Daily Index the
United States shipping ooaul. tele-
nhonic reports from lookout stations
and guard ships Stationed IN NeN
York harbor. and from The army p-eIs
ken.
In addition 70 serving the maritime I
interests, the naval comm ll "a on I
service. through its cas- cable teie-
graph and radio facilities. is handing I
practically all the business OF Lne
government passing through NeN I
York. Another feature Of its service. I
regarding which the war time Dan OF /
secrecy has been recently liIteu- I
was the nerfecting Of an electrona=-
letfc signaling device whereby lo4 I
pound ships may determine their posi- I
lion and be warned away from Gan
5erous shoals
This device enables the listening 4
,perator 10 determine not only the /
Erection from which the cali comes I
1ut the distance from which IL Is sent !
3v means Of cross bearings, taken I
rom different receiving stations. D. I
becomes but a simple mathema lieal .
problem 20 determine an exact loca- /
ion. and the vessel sending the sig
lal is so advised For this service
iIone the maritime interests ce7ile I
he deuartmenr continued