The evening leader., 1919-06-06
RureSpceGd. eGd.AADER
madam
pia 4: ,::.;;;'au !: of Ship
s.Js:s.' fI:s ing hforrnat;;o,
menS fitcb OAl

W au of shiD1ineesr nneesrnnaent-cOntroIIIteadDtnli
j. hiSh maritime intere.1H nosatio sss5: Of
states are adr.sgsaieaiiy all the
4 tbo elai souSffSs t'guBSfs fthe world, is an
,,Ie n,o,,. moyaSof the activities of the navy
department during the war.
This bureau, conducted by what is
known as the naval communications
service, was instituted shortly after
this country entered the conflict. 1t
was made necessary for the reason
that prior to that time there was no
organized branch of the government
through which the movement of ships
could be obtained on short notice. The
demands of the navy and war depart
ments, the United States Shipping
board and allied war interests requir-
ed that there be at hand at all times
4 carefully revised record Of all ships
not alone of their movements, but
details as to their tonnage, speed,
specifications as to build, etc,
Under the direction of a naval Off
Ger, with assistants recruited from
the marine departments of press as
saeiations, daily and marine publica-
ti0ns, etc, the bureau was established
and arrangements were at once made
for prompt and reliahle dispatches
from ali parts of the world concerning
ship movements, this service embrac-
ing not only the facilities of the tee
graph and cable but tie government
controlled wireless as well.
It's value during the war was incsti-
mable and, with the coming of peace
and the efforts to build up in this
country an efficient merchant marine,
the bureau has thrown open to the
public-and particularly to the ship
owners, charters, shippers, insurance
interests and maritime business gen
orally, the facilities of its vast and
far-reaching service.
By means of a card index a question
relating to any ship can be promptly
answered-and reliable information
as to her sailing date, estimated time
Of arrival at port of destination, To-
cation at sea or in port, can be readi-
ly given. 1t is a service which prior
to the war was maintained in SINH
lar manner by many of the foreign
maritime nations-some of them much
smaller than the United States and
having far less ships than did this
country. With large merchant ma
rine, such as this country apparently
rseessSires, the value of such a service,
'marine men say, is unquestioned.
The naval communication service
!employs about $50 persons, all in navy
uniform and under direction of Lieu
tenant Commander r. B. Coffman. 1t
issues daily, and distributes free of
cost to more than 800 shipping firms,
newspapers, government officials, mar
ltlme exchanges, ETC., bulletin of 145
pages carrying the names of more
than 10000 vessels, each name show
ing nationality, tonnage, location or
sailing date. Evidencing the demand
for this information the circulation of
the bulletin is increasing rapidly. Be-
tween the hours of issue, the bureau
keeps ship owners advised by tele-
phone of radio messages sent from
ships at sea.
The practical sources of information
from which the bulletin ACQUIRES its
data are daily reports by telegraph
and cable from naval Offices at ports
in the United States and from at
taches in foreign countries; daily re-
ports from the bureau of operations
Of the United States navy and Offices
Of the naval intelligence bureau; daily
reports Except Sunday from the
British ministry of shipping; informa-
ton obtained from steamship compa-
MES and agents; associated Press ca
hlegrams; the Lloyd's Daily Index;
the United States shipping board; tel
ephonic reports from lookout stations
and guard ships stationed in New
York harbor, and from the army piers
of the port of embarkation, in Ho-
b0ken.
In addition to serving the maritime
interests, the naval communication
service, through its vast cable, tele-
graph and radio facilities, is handling
practically all the business of the gov
ernment passing through New York.
Another feature of it's service, regard
ing which the wartime ban has but
recently been lifted, was the perfect
ing of an electromagnetic signaling
device whereby fog-bound ships may
determine their position and be warn
ed away from dangerous shoals.
This device enables the listening op-
orator to determine not only the direc-
ton from which the call comes but the
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