The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1919-06-04

which maritime interests Of the Uni
ted States are advised daily through
official sources and without cost, Of
the movements Of practically all the
merchant ships of the world, is an
outgrowth of n of the activities of
the Navy department during the war.
This bureau, conducted by what is
know ma the Naval Communications
Service, was instituted shortly after
this country entered the conflict. 1t
was made necessary for the, reason
that prior o that time there was no
organized branch of the government
throufh which the movement of ships
could be obtained on short notice. The
demands of the Navy and w arDe-
partments, the United States ship
ping board and allied war interests
required that there be at hand at all
times a carefully revised record Of
ships-not alone af their movements,
but details as to their tonnage. speed.
specifications as to build, etc.
:. Under the direction of a naval Of
ficer, with assistants recruited from
the marine departments of press as
sociations, daily and marine publica-
tions, etc the bureau was establish
ed and arrangements were at once
made for prompt and reliable despat-
ches from all parts of the world con-
corning ship movements, this service
embracing not only the facilities OF
the telegraph and cable but the gov
ernment-controlled wirless as WELL.
It's value during the war was in
estimable, and with the coming Of
peace and the efforts to build up in
this country an efficient merchant ma
rine, the bureau has thrown open to
the public-and particularly to the
ship owners, charters, shippers, in.
surance, interests and maritime bus
mess generally, the facilities Of its
vast and far-reaching service.
BY means of a card index q ques-
ton relating to any ship can, be
prmomptly answered. and reliable
information as to- her sailing. date,
estimated time of arrival at port Of
destination, location at. e or in. port,
can be readily given. ~.:
It is a service which prior to the
war was maintained. in a similar man.
ner by many of the foreign mari
time nations-some. of them much.
smaller and having far less ships
than did this country. With q large
merchant marine, such as this coun-
try apparently desires, the, value of
such a service, marine men say, is
unquestioned.
The Nava: Communication Service
employees about $50 persons, all, in
Navy uniform and under direction. Of
Lieutenant Commander r. b. Cof-
man. It issues daily, and distributes
free Of cost to more than 800 ship
ping firms, newspapers, government
officials, maritime exchanges, ETC., q
bulletin Of 145 pages carrying the
names of more than 10000 vessels
each showing nationally, tonnage, To-
cation or sailing date. Evidencing
the demand for this information the
circulation of the bulletin is increas-
ing rapidly. Between the hours of
issue, the Bureau keeps ship owners
advised by telephone Of radio mes
sages sent from ships at sea.
The practical sources. Of informa-
ton from which the bulletin acquires
its data are daily reports by tele-
graph and cable from naval offices
at ports in the United States and
from attaches in foreign countries;
daily reports from the Bureau Of OPP
Grafton Of the United States Navy
and Offices Of the Naval Intelligence
Bureau; daily reports Except Sum
day. from the British Ministry Of
Shipping; information obtained from
steamship companies and agents;
Associated Press cablegrams; the.
Lloyds' Daily Index; the United Stat
es Shipping Board; telephone reports
from lookout stations and guard
ships stationed in New York harbor,
and from the army piers d the Port
Of Embarkation, in Hoboken. IS
In addition to serving the mari
time interests, the Naval Communi-
cation Service, through it's vast ca
BILE, telegraph and radio facilities, is
handling practically all the business
Of the government passing through