This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... Boat signals, in which two square flags or handkerchiefs take the place of the square flags, two long strips of cloth or pieces of wood are substitutes for the triangular flag, and hats, bundles, or buckets serve iu place of the black balls used in the system of distance signals. their capture, and ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... Boat signals, in which two square flags or handkerchiefs take the place of the square flags, two long strips of cloth or pieces of wood are substitutes for the triangular flag, and hats, bundles, or buckets serve iu place of the black balls used in the system of distance signals. their capture, and arrangements are also made for the destruction of signal books used on land. They are guarded with special care whenever they are used or stored, and, while it is easy to learn what flag represents a given numeral, it is not easy to learn what the numeral or a combination of them means." "Is the same system used by vessels engaged in commerce?" "Not precisely the same, but one based on similar principles. There is an international system of signaling the numerals, and an international code or signal book common to all nations, and printed in the language of each. So no matter whether the man who receives a signal understands a word of the language spoken by the man who sent it, he learns what it means by making a memorandum of the numbers transmitted and referring to his code book, where he finds the words printed in his own language opposite the numerals signaled. There are many systems of signaling these numerals; that of Benjamin F. Coston, a citizen of the United States, having been adopted by many nations. By using small square flags, with combinations of red, green, and white in the day, and colored lights arranged in the same manner at night, figures and letters can be transmitted long distances, and thus communication greatly facilitated." "Then the methods of communication by signals are really very numerous." "Yes. There is first the plan of signaling letters by the use of the Morse alphabet, by the wigwagging system, by which dots...
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