Office of the Historian

No. 5.
Sent to the diplomatic officers of the United States.

Department of State,
Washington, May 28, 1879.

Sir: The Navy Department having experienced for a long time the advantages of, not to say the necessity for, an international system of fog-signals, and lamenting the loss of life and property that has occurred through the lack of an adequate system, the Secretary of the Navy has proposed to me that there be submitted to the various maritime powers of the world, through this Department, for consideration, with a view to adoption, a code, of which a copy is herein inclosed, the plan of Commodore Beaumont, which is regarded as effective from its perfect simplicity and capacity to communicate what is intended.

Blasts of steam-whistles and horns have been used for a number of years to indicate the proximity of vessels in times of fog; and since the general introduction of steamers in the merchant marine, it has become necessary that not only the proximity of vessels but, also, that the course they are steering should be indicated with some degree of accuracy so as to be able to avoid collisions.

In the proposed system two signals are employed—the initial and secondary signal. The initial signal indicates the quadrant, and the secondary the point in the quadrant steered. One blast indicates the first quadrant, or from N. to E.; two blasts (with an interval of one-half second between) the second quadrant, or from E. to S.; three blasts, the third quadrant, or from S. to W.; four blasts, the fourth quadrant, or from W. to N., &c.

Between the initial and secondary signals there should be an interval of not less than four seconds. In making the secondary signals an interval of one-half second is made between each sound or blast.

These compass signals are not to be repeated oftener than at intervals of not more than one minute when made by steam-whistle, and at intervals of not more than five minutes when made by fog-horn, which does not conflict with existing laws.

When by these signals or other indications the presence of other vessels is made known, each vessel mus’t be brought up to the exact point as per first column, “Course,” in the accompanying table, and not steer between the points, as per second column, until they have passed each other; due regard being paid to the dangers of navigation. When the vessels sight each other, the Rules of the Road, established by law, must be followed.

A system of signals for use by vessels not having the regular international code is herewith inclosed. It is very simple, and every vessel afloat could use it with but the slight additional expense of the inclosed card.

The present international code of signals is not only cumbersome, but very expensive, and is, consequently, not in general use by mercantile vessels.

At present there is no provision for vessels to communicate with each other at night. By the proposed system this difficulty is obviated, as vessels are enabled to communicate not only by day, but also by night.

The adoption of this system, as it requires no expenditure of money, would be brought about, I infer, by the mere expression of a wish on the part of the governments interested and a dissemination of the means employed in its execution.

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You are instructed to present the codes transmitted to you with this instruction to the minister of foreign affairs of —— —— for the consideration of the —— —— government, and to request an expression of its views thereon.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WM. M. EVARTS.
[Inclosures.]

Proposed international alphabet.

Proposed general fog-signals.

proposed international alphabet.

A 12 J 1222 S 111
B 2111 K 212 T 2
C 2121 L 1211 U 112
D 211 M 22 V 1112
E 1 N 21 W 122
F 1121 O 222 X 2112
G 221 P 1221 Y 2122
H 1111 Q 2212 Z 2211
I 11 R 121

numerals.

1 12222 6 21111
2 11222 7 2211
3 11122 8 22211
4 11112 9 22221
5 11111 0 22222

Note.—In the American Naval Code the colors Red will be used for 1, White for 2, both together, 3.

In answering a message, 3—“I understand;” 33—“I do not understand.”

End of word, 3. End of sentence, 33. End of message, 333. Error, 3333.

rule for establishing the code.

A vessel or station (A) desiring to communicate any message or intelligence to a stranger may hoist a flag or other object, which will be known as A’s number 1. After this is seen and noted, the vessel or station signaled (B) will answer by showing a flag or object, which will be recognized as B’s number 1, and noted by A accordingly. A will then hoist a flag of another color or different object, which will indicate A’s number 2, which will again be answered by a flag or other object from B, which flag or object will indicate B’s number 2.

When these preliminaries have been completed both A and B will know the values of the flags or objects, and can then proceed to communicate intelligently with each other by the above international alphabet.

For example: A wishes to communicate with B and has adopted a red flag as his number 1, a white flag as his number 2. He then displays the red, hauls it down, and replaces it with the white flag, thereby communicating the combination 12—equivalent to the letter “A,” and so on throughout the alphabet.

For night signaling the flags will be replaced by different-colored lanterns, and be used in the same manner as the flags.

The ensign hoisted at the fore or main-mast head will indicate that the International Signal Code Book will be referred to.

U. S. Naval Signal Office,
Navy Department, January 1, 1879.

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PROPOSED GENERAL FOG-SIGNALS TO INDICATE THE COURSE STEERED.

Course. Between what points. Sounds. Explanatory remarks.
North N. by W. and N. by E O

O indicates a sound or blast of horn or whistle.

* indicates an interval of one-half second between sounds or blasts.

— indicates an interval of not less than four seconds between sounds or blasts.

These Compass Signals are not to be repeated oftener than at intervals of not more than one (1) minute when made by steam-whistle, and at intervals of not more than five (5) minutes when made by fog-horn. (Revised Stats., sec. 4233, Rule 15, Rules for Preventing Collisions.)

When, by these signals or other indications, the presence of another vessel is made known, each vessel must be brought up to the exact point, as per first column, “Course,” and not steer between the points, as per second column, until they have passed each other, due regard being paid to the dangers of navigation.

When the vessels sight each other the Rules of the Road must be followed.
NNE N. by E. and NE. by N O — O * O
NE NE. by N. and NE. by E O — O * O * O
ENE NE. by E. and E. by N O — O * O * O * O
East E. by N. and E. by S O * O
ESE E. by S. and SE. by E O * O — O
SE SE. by E. and SE. by S O * O — O * O *O
SSE SE. by S. and S. by E O * O — O * O * O * O
South S. by E. and S. by W O * O * O
SSW S. by W. and SW. by S O * O * O — O
SW SW. by S. and SW. by W O * O * O — O * O
WSW SW. by W. and W. by S O * O * O — O * O * O * O
West W. by S. and W. by N O * O * O * O
WNW W. by N. and NW. by W O * O * O * O — O
NW NW. by W. and NW. by N O * O * O * O — O * O * O
NNW NW. by N. by W O * O * O * O — O * O * O
Hove to, or lying still O — O * O * O — O
Towing, or being towed O * O — O * O * O — O * O
U. S. Naval Signal Office,
Navy Department, January 1, 1879.