INTERNATIONAL WIRELESS On account of the rival systems in use in this country and the different countries of Europe, it was decided to hold an international conference, at which rules could be formulated to control them. The conference met at Berlin in August, 1903. The following rules were adopted, applying to the exchange of messages between vessels at sea and coast stations: Any fixed station whose field of action extends to the sea is styled a coast station. Coast stations are bound to receive and transmit telegrams originating from or intended for vessels at sea without any distinction of wireless telegraph system used by the latter. Contracting parties shall publish TELEGRAPHY CONFERENCE. NEW INTERNATIONAL The new International Code of Signals came into use on January 1, 1901, and its distinguishing sign will henceforward be the code pennant hoisted in the ordinary way. Illustrations of the new signals are given in the plate, together with rules for signals of distress in the text. It is not now necessary to tie the fly of the Code Pennant to the halyards, as was previously required when beginning to signal. When hoisted under the ensign, it denotes a signal taken from the International Code. When hoisted by itself at the masthead it is the Answering Pennant. any technical information likely to facilitate or expedite communication between coast stations and ships at sea. The wireless station must, unless it should be absolutely impossible, accept in preference requests for help that may come from vessels. The service of wireless telegraph stations must be organized as far as practicable so as not to interfere with the service of other stations. The protocol was signed by the United States, Germany, Austria, Spain, France and Russia. Great Britain and Italy were unable to sign. The general feeling of the conference was decidedly against monopolization of the wireless telegraph business by any one company. CODE OF SIGNALS. Communication may then be commenced, and any message following in this page, or found under the heading "Danger or Distress" in the International Code Signal Book, may be exchanged, strictly following the International Commercial Code and the instructions given above. The International Code Signal described above, asking to open communication, should be shown in every case of distress by the shore station, for it may be that the vessel has the International Code, but, until seeing this signal, will not know that she can use it. ATLANTIC COAST. SEACOAST TELEGRAPHIC LINES. Nantucket, Massachusetts. Cape Henry, Virginia. Currituck Inlet, North Carolina. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. PACIFIC COAST. Tatoosh Island, Washington. Neah Bay, Washington. Twin Rivers, Washington. Thunder Bay Island, Michigan. Of the above stations the following, and also Jupiter, Florida, are supplied with International Code Signals, and communication can be had therewith for the purpose of ob taining information concerning the approach of storms, weather conditions in general, and for the purpose of sending telegrams to points on commercial lines. Nantucket, Massachusetts. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Tatoosh Island, Washington. Hatteras, North Carolina. Neah Bay, Washington. Point Reyes Light, California. Any message signaled by the International Code, as adopted or used by England, France, America, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, and Norway, Russia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, received at these telegraphic signal stations, will be transmitted and delivered to the address on payment at the station of the telegraphic charge. All messages received from or addressed to the War, Navy, Treasury, State, Interior, or other official department at Washington, are telegraphed without charge over the Weather Bureau lines. SPECIAL DISTANT SIGNALS. numerically for reading off a signal. Made by a single hoist followed by the STOP signal. Arranged 3 3 2 Enemy is closing with you, or, You are closing with the enemy. 3 4 2 Keep a good look-out, as it is reported that enemy's men-of-war are going about disguised as merchantmen. 4 1 2 Proceed on your voyage. The information relative to the International Code is taken from the thirty-fifth annual list of the merchant vessels of the United States and is published by the Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce and Labor. THE FOLLOWING DISTANT SIGNALS MADE WITH FLAG AND BALL, OR PENNANT AND BALL, HAVE THE SPECIAL SIGNIFICATION INDicated benEATH THEM. "RULE 1.-If the squalls freshen without any shift of wind, you are on or near the storm track: heave to on the starboard tack and watch for some indications of a shift, observing the low clouds particularly; if the barometer fall decidedly (say half an inch) without any shift, and if wind and sea permit, run off with the wind on the starboard quarter and keep your compass course. RULE 2.-If the wind shift to the right, you are to the right of the storm track. put the ship on the starboard tack and make as much headway as possible until obliged to lie-to (starboard tack). LIFE-SAVING The following signals recommended by the late International Marine Conference for adoption by all institutions for saving life from wrecked vessels, have been adopted by the Life-saving Service of the United States. 1. Upon the discovery of a wreck by night, the life-saving force will burn a red pyro "RULE 3.-If the wind shift to the left, you are to the left of the storm track: bring the wind on the starboard quarter and keep your compass course if obliged to lie-to, do so on the port tack. "GENERAL RULES, GOOD FOR ALL NORTHERN HEMISPHERE STORMS.-In scudding always keep the wind well on the starboard quarter, in order to run out of the storm. Always lie-to on the coming-up tack. Use oil to prevent heavy seas from breaking on board." SIGNALS. technic light or a red rocket to signify, "You are seen; assistance will be given as soon as possible." 2. A red flag waved on shore by day, or a red light, red rocket, or red Roman candle displayed by night, will signify, "Haul away." 3. A white flag waved on shore by day, or a A warning blast of from fifteen to twenty seconds duration is sounded to attract attention. After this warning the longer blasts (of from four to six seconds duration) refer to weather, and shorter blasts (of from one to three seconds duration) refer to temperature; those for weather are sounded first. Blasts. One long. Two long.. Three long.. One short. Two short. Three short.. Indicate. Fair weather. a By repeating each combination few times, with intervals of ten seconds, liability to error in reading the signals may be avoided. As far as practicable the forecast messages will be telegraphed at the expense of the Weather Bureau; but if this is impracticable, they will be furnished at the regular commercial rates and sent "collect." In no case will the forecasts be sent to a second address in any place except at the expense of the applicant. Persons desiring to display the flags or sound the whistle signals for the benefit of the public should communi Icate with the Weather Bureau officials in charge of the climate and crop service of their respective States, the central stations of which are as follows: Montgomery, Ala.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Little Rock, Ark.; San Francisco, Cal.; Denver, Colo.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Boise, Idaho; Springfield, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa; Topeka, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans, La. ; Baltimore, Md. (for Delaware and Maryland); Boston, Mass. (for New England); Lansing, Mich.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Vicksburg, Miss.; Columbia, Mo.; Helena, Mont.; Lincoln, Nebr.; Carson City, Nev.: New Brunswick, N. J.; Santa Fe, N. Mex. ; Ithaca, N. Y.; Raleigh, N. C.; Bismarck, N. Dak.; Columbus, Ohio; Oklahoma, Okla. (for Oklahoma and Indian Territories); Portland, Oreg. ; Philadelphia, Pa.; Columbia, S. C.; Huron, S. Dak.; Nashville, Tenn.; Galveston, Tex.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Richmond, Va.; Seattle, Wash.; Parkersburg, W. Va.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Cheyenne, Wyo. WILLIS L. MOORE, Chief U. S. Weather Bureau. |