The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-29
SHIPS CHARTERED BY RADIO
By JOHN y. ANDERSON, in The Evening POST

sued by the bureau, public interest, per-
| haps, centers in the collection ana aus
semination OF that Information. though II
represents only part OF the work OF
the communicate Nseryice.
/ The Daily shipping Bulletin, as it is
called, is simply the American counter
| part Of publications that have existed in
foreign countries for many years. Eng
land has had a number of ship news pub
locations. though they have, quite natur-
ally, been interested mainly in British
shipping. Continental countries, some
with similar maritime interests thar
America, have maintained bureaus Of
shipping information for the benefit Of
their own commerce and the commerce
/, of other nations.
Twelve thousand or more ships are list
ed each day in the Bulletin and COM
plete record of each one-practicaly a
history of the ships the result. The
vessels are listed alphabetically, ana
after the name, the list gives her nag,
| type tonnage last location, date AM
cargo. With the status Of ship chang
ing almost daily, IL Is necessary to note
the changes in the Bulletin, and from
this fact some idea OF the work inVolV-
ell may be obtained. In addition TO TINS
general information concerning ships all
over the world arrivals and departures
| in New York are set forth separately,
| aEd this is supplemented by list OF YES
sells lying In New York harbor on the
cate Of issue. together with notations OF
the dock activities.
AS the information comes into the
office it passes through two processes
IL Ia published in the Bulletin and con-
verified into permanent office records IN
voIving each ship. These office records
are kept on large forms prepared Tor
filing and form an essential part OF the
publication Of the Bulletin, yet at the
same time constitute a separate branch
OF the work Of the bureau. All Ameri-
can ships have cards in the file and all
foreign vessels OF 1900 tons or more are
listed. OF the total number OF ships hst-
ed on June S, which was 1929, America
controlled 1877 per cent of them, Great
Britain 1875 per cent, and from 3.5 TO 40
per cent each was owned by Germany,
Norway, Japan and France. The re-
naming tonnage was shared by eleven
nations.
ship is not dropped because she
reaches her destination, but every day in
port is chronicled with the same pre-
cision that every day at sea is report
ed. If a vessel moves from her berth
to another, or goes into drydock, the faAt
is registered at A Whitehall street. Be-
cause OF this complete record 1t is posi-
BILE for the bureau to ascertain the where
abouts of any ship registered there, and
even ships without wireless apparatus
may be approximately located at sea.
The bureau knew May % the approx
mate position of the Danish steamship
Mary, but unfortunately for a waiting
world, couldn't estimate the probable po-
sition of Hawker, the overseas air pilot
picked up by the Dane.
This computation OF position led to the
discovery an6 development of what has
come to be one of the important activi-
ties of the bureau-the location of ships
at sea by wireless. At present the Use
of the apparatus is limited to about 200
miles. but those who planned 1t believe
that its use may be extended. 4
To present an adequate conception CT
the apparatus it is necessary to take into
consideration the contour of the New
York coast line from Montauk Point TO
Mantolokfng. N. j., and keep In mind
also, the arrangement of the five large
radio stations along the shore, beginning
with MoRtauk at the esatern tip of Long
Rockaway, Sandy Hook and Mantoloxing.
With this in mind an example will suf-
flee to explain the operation of tho new
system.
A ship is off New York in a fS~, un-
able to get her bearing. She SENDS out
wireless calls, and the station at IA
Whitehall street, through one of the
great RADIO plants, picks them up. The
central station tells the ship to repeat
her signals. and at the same time orders
all five OF the shore stations to receive
the calls and send in the readings, CIV
ing the direction from which the waves
come with reference to the receiving
station.
south southwest, Fire Island, southeast,
east, Mantoloking east by north. With