SIGNALS AT SEA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 26 March 1926, Page 10

SIGNALS AT SEA.

THE ROMANCE OF FLAGS. In'; recent years it has been freely lamented that the sea has lost some, if not all, of its old-time romance, and that in these modern days of steamers anid".tourists, one must seek elsewhere thgn on the ocean's broad highway for that spic-e of romantic adventure commonly associated with life at sea. In omj.-respect at least there: still remains a touch of the old romance in sea life —and tliis is to be found in the sea. signals which still to-dav, as of yore, afford a ready means of communication bijtweon ships. 'Lord Charles Bcrcsford used to declare that the finest signal in the code wins that favourite one of Nelson’s: '!“Engage-.the enemy more closely.” (Nelson consistently made this signal when going; into action, and although tjiat of .“England; expects” lias become associated with his name, the former more nearly describes the fighting temperament of the great admiral. He was- not content to have the signal made, but always insisted that it “should be kept .flying” .throughout thcFbattle, as indeed' itwas at the time of' his death at Trafalgar. -Another'signal made more than a century later and in different circumstances deserves to be better known than it is. That was the last signal made by the gallant Cradoek before tlie.V Battle of Coronel, anti lead: “I

aaffigoing to attack now,” characteristic ofvja man who was aware that lie was absent to engage very superior forces to his~own. ■ • -Tli the international code of signals, which is used- by all the maritime Powers, there are included an immense number of signals covering all the requirements of communication at sea. Tlics. code is based. on twenty-six flags representing the letters of the alphabet, aifiT there are four classes of signals, made with one, two, three, or four flags. Among the one-flag signals arc B (a 1 -red burgee), meaning danger or caution; C meaning “Yes,” and if, meaning “No”; P, the Blue Peter! signifying when hoisted at tlio fore, fhafe the ship is about to sail; and ’S mbaning “I want a pilot.” L, the Yellow Jack, means that infectious disease is on hoard. ;The two-flag signals are classed as “urgent and important.” Among them mav be found some poignant and dramatic phrases, breathing of the perils of the sea." One,- perhaps, is

outstanding for the courageous and indomitable spirit animating the simple assurance, and deserves to rank with Nelson’s as the proudest set signal over made. It is Al, and means “I will not abandon you.” Most of the two-flag signals, from their very urgency, must necessarily be largely calls for help. For example there are: • N G— In distress; want immediate assistance. N Y —-Short of provisions;’ itarving. N M —l am on fire. N o—l am sinking. Others have a more mandatory tone, and some are warnings. C X —No assistance can be given; do the best you can for yourself. J I)—You are standing into danger. J E —Beware of derelict. K I —Beach your vessel at; all risks. O E —Enemy in sigiit. Q Y —Do not show a light on any account. Y X —War declared.

The universal use of wireless has lessened the urgency of the next signal, which, however, is a reminder of the days when the desire for news was not as easily satisfied as now. S L means : “Would you liko to see our newspapers ?” . ’ ! Wireless also has done much to lessen | the importance of the signal U N, “Report me all well,” formerly much in use between ships at sea. In the three-letter group there are phrases for every imaginable occasion. Many of these arc made in conjunction with the remaining group, the ' four-letter signals, so that a captain desiring to notify a passing vessel of his destination would hoist: H B R—“l am hound to A R Z D —Melbourne.” Very often the distance is too great or the visibility not sufficiently good to enable these flag signals to bo distinguished. Tn this event other measures are adopted, and there arc codes for distant signals, sound signals, etc. The distant signal code consists of shapes being more clearly discernible against the sky than the colours and designs of flags. By this code such a signal as “I am on_fl.ro!” can be made bv different j hoists. By means of the international code, which has been termed the “best universal dictionary in existence,” no fewer than 375,070 different messages can be sent, covering every need of communication. Since the code has been adopted by all the maritime Powers, and has been translated into •• every language, sailors of all nations ! can talk with ca.sc, without knowing a word of one another’s language. The

code book is m use in all ships, both naval and mercantile, and there is not a ship afloat which does not carry a copy of this great dictionary of the sea.