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The
short piece of moulding is lettered with capitals starting with A at
top, going down or the reverse of the lettering on the longer piece,
which starts at bottom going up.
The number 10 on
the small piece and the opposite number on the long piece are used as
keys to cipher.
Method of Using Cipher
Outfit.
By referring to Figure 22 it will be seen at once that to change the
cipher all that is necessary is to shift the small piece of picture
moulding up or down. Each sending and receiving station would have this
outfit handy, and to send a message the following procedure should be
kept in mind.
Encipher or, that is, put your
message into cipher from capitals to the opposite small alphabet.
To
decipher a message at receiving station use the reverse method.
To
give the receiver the proper key to cipher; this can be done by
signaling the key in the preamble of your message; for example, the
message : "WE BREAK CAMP
AT SUNRISE" would be sent, if taken from
Figure 22, as follows: (Key) 1027
QI LVIMC KMAX MT USZVEUI.
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Chapter VIII
MARITIME SIGNALING
United
States Maritime Signaling is divided into two branches: that of the
Merchant Marine and that of the Navy. The signal methods of the
Merchant Marine apply in all cases to privately owned yachts, power
boats and other small craft having use for a signal system.
To
be well versed in Maritime Signaling it is necessary for a signalist to
know wherein the methods differ between U. S. merchant vessels and
ships of the U. S. Navy.
U. S. Merchant Marine
Signaling.
The methods of signaling in the U. S. Merchant Marine are based
entirely on the International Code of signals, which is the result of
many years of work on the part of the International Marine Conference.
The
International Signal Book is used by all vessels throughout the world,
both merchant and men-of-war, thus enabling all ships to carry on
communications by signals, even without the knowledge of one another's
language.
Every signal in the International Signal
Book has the same meaning in any language.
Signals
are sent from the International Signal Code by means of the following
systems :
Flag
Hoists, International Morse Code, which is same as General
Service
Code, International Flag Waving, Colombs Sound and Flashing System and
International Distance Signals.
The most general
method of signaling by vessels is by means of flag hoists in which the
International Code flags are employed.
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There
is nothing that gives a poorer impression to expert signalmen, or those
who know, than to observe the misuse of flags in signaling. For this
reason the writer will acquaint you in a general way with a few
nautical terms relating to flag hoist signals and correct form of
handling flags.
FLAGS AND CORRECT WAY OF USING
The Hoist of any flag is
the side fastened to flagstaff or line holding it.
The
Fly of a flag is
at right angles to the hoist. (See Figure 23.)
A Hoist of flags is
a
number of signal flags on one line or hoist.
The
lines by which a signal flag or flags are hoisted are called halyards.
That
part of halyard which is attached to upper hoist of flag running
through pulley or block is termed the down haul.
That
part of halyard which is connected to the lower hoist of the flag or
flags is termed the tail.
(See Figure 23.)
Flag
signals on merchant ships are usually hoisted to the most convenient
position on the yardarm or mast from which signals can best be seen and
distinguished. However, on most of the larger ships a special
signal
FIG. 23
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FIG. 24
yard
is used on the foremast which is situated ahead of the ship's funnels.
The signals are not then obscured by smoke except in a case where
receiving ship is dead astern.
Signal flags are
flown from
either Port
(left side of a ship) signal yardarm, or Starboard (right
side of a ship) signal yardarm according to position of the receiving
ship.
A flag is said to be close up when hoisted
to its limit
on a yardarm or mast and at dip when only hoisted two-thirds of the way
up. (See Figure 25.)
The Peak of
a mast is
extreme top point.
All signal and special distinguishing flags vary in size and shape;
however, in regard to shapes, a way of classifying as to proper names
can be found by consulting Figure 27.
Signal flags
are
fastened on the halyards by means of a ring at the upper end of the
hoist of flag and a snap hook at lower end. They may be tied to
halyards by means of a single carrick bend. (See Figure 24.) The last
method is clumsy and slow. All of the up-to-date merchant lines and
navies that have a great many signals to handle use rings and hooks.
FLAGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE
AND HOW USED
The
International Code flags are twenty-six in number one for each letter
of the alphabet and also a code pennant, all of which are pictured on
Chart 10. (See special section of colored flags.)
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One-flag
signals B, C, D, L, P, Q
and S
hoisted singly have a special
significance. The code pennant over each indicates that they are
signals of a general nature and of frequent use.
Code
flags
hoisted singly after numerals signal Number 1 refer to numeral table in
Code Book, as do also two-flag signals with code pennant hoisted under
them.
Two-flag signals without code flag are
urgent and
important signals; with the code flag hoisted over them they are time,
latitude, longitude, barometer and thermometer signals. Three-flag
signals express points of the compass, money, weights and measures and
also other signals required for general communication. Four-flag
signals with a burgee (A or B) uppermost are geographical signals; with
C uppermost they are spelling or vocabulary signals; with G uppermost
they are names of men-
YARD
FIG. 25
81
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of-war; with a square
flag
uppermost they are names of merchant vessels.
The
following are meanings given single flags already mentioned :
B.
Am taking on (or unloading) explosives.
C. Yes or
affirmative.
D. No or negative.
L. I have (or
have had) infectious disease aboard.
P. I am about to sail ;
all persons report on board.
Q. Have clean bill of health,
but liable to quarantine.
S. I want a pilot.
Single
flags are sometimes used as signals from a towing ship to ships in tow;
the meanings when used thus do not, however, correspond in any way to
above signals.
METHOD OF SIGNALING WHEN NO OTHER
SHIPS ARE IN SIGHT
Example
: Ship A
wants to signal ship B.
Ship A will
hoist her ensign (national
colors) over the code pennant but not on the same halyard. If hoisted
at same mast as succeeding signal the methods will interfere. As soon
as ship B
makes out the attention signal she will answer by hoisting
the code pennant at dip; then ship A
proceeds with signals, first
hauling down the code flag, and when completed ship B acknowledges by
hoisting the code pennant close up and leaves it there until ship A
hauls down the hoist of signals after which she lowers it to dip, and
awaits the next signal.
When ship A has completed
her signals
she hauls down the ensign and the other ship hauls down the answering
pennant (code pennant).
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ENGINEERING
All flag hoists are read
from
top down and never exceed four to the hoist.
In
case several ships are in sight and ship A wishes to signal
ship B, she
will attract attention of B by either of two ways; the first, is to
hoist B
ship's distinguishing letters or, second, to hoist the
two-letter signals which indicate direction the ship she wishes to call
is traveling.
All vessels are supposed to display
their distinguishing call letters when passing at sea.
DISTANT SIGNALS
When
in consequence of distance, wind or weather preventing the code flags
from being seen, an alternative method of signaling is used, which is
known as distant signals.
There are three ways of
making distant signals:
1. By means of the Fixed
Coast Semaphore.
2. By means of square flags, pennants and
whefts.
3. By means of cones, balls and drums.
Calm
weather and when wind is blowing from and towards the receiving station
are the reasons that make it difficult to make out the colored flags of
the International Code. For this same reason the method of distant
signaling by means of square flags, pennants and whefts is not as
preferable as by the cones,
balls and drums. A wheft is any
flag tied in center to halyards; therefore this system is mostly used.
Chart
15 gives the distant signal alphabet by balls, cones and drums.
The
shapes are made by stretching canvas over pieces of light wood or metal
forms, the canvas is as a rule then painted black.
The
signals are made from International Signal Book and hoists are read
from top down same as the flags.
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DISTANT
SIGNAL ALPHABET
CHART 15
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For
convenience in their use the shapes representing the letters have been
arranged in numerical order. The letters A to G begin with one, the
letters H to U begin with two, and the letters V to Z begin with three.
Distant signals by Fixed Coast Semaphore are made
by a
semaphore machine. The position of the arms indicate numbers which are
translated from the International Signal Book. This method is only
employed by shore stations and not by ships.
INTERNATIONAL FLAG WAVING SYSTEM
The
International Flag Waving System is done by a single stick wigwag flag
and the International Morse Code is used. However, the method of making
dots and dashes is different from the U. S. Army and Navy Wigwag
System.
The dot is made by a short sweep of flag
over the head of sender and a dash by a long swing of the flag.
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Chapter IX
U. S. NAVY FLAG SIGNALS
The
flag signal system of the Navy is in all probability the most important
of all day signal methods. It has the advantage over the two-arm
semaphore, either hand flags or machine method, and the wigwag which
are the other day systems used by the Navy and which have already been
explained.
The advantage of flag signals in the
Navy is the great range and its adaptability to fleet manoeuvering and
battle tactics.
The
flag signals are made by hoists transmitting the Navy Flag Code, this
flag code can also be sent by all the other signal methods used in the
Navy.
When flags are necessary for
intercommunication between
the U. S. Army and all merchant ships, the International Flag Code is
used.
The term "break" or flag is "broken" will
come up in
connection with Navy flag signaling, so it will be well to acquaint you
with the proper way of making up a signal flag for breaking.
There
are several ways to do this, but the following plan, if followed, will
prove the most reliable :
Figure
26 (A) shows a signal flag lying flat on the deck ready to be made up
for the "break." To do this the flag is folded on dotted lines 1 and 2
and then rolled towards the hoist as in B, after which the tail line is
laid on top of rolled flag in form of a loop. The free end of line is
then wrapped securely around the roll and over the loop by a number of
turns and again looped into the end of other goose neck (see C) and
drawn tight, which serves to clinch the tail line.
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ENGINEERING
The flag is then ready
to hoist
as in D, after which it can be broken by simply giving a sharp tug on
the tail line.
The
foremast is principally used for signaling by naval ships, except in
the case of a flagship which flies her signals from the
FIG. 26
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main
mast. The signal yards in either case are usually provided with three
to six signal halyards on each port and starboard side. The peak of a
mast on a naval ship is usually termed the truck.
HOW NAVY SIGNALS ARE EXECUTED
The
General Signal Book of the U. S. Navy contains a list of signals known
as the Navy Flag Code. This book is divided into various parts, some of
which are very confidential and are in the hands of only the higher
officers.
The method of making the signals is
alike no matter
from what section or volume, as the meanings are arranged in
alphabetical order opposite the signals to be sent.
The
flags
and pennants used in the Navy for making flag signals are the alphabet
flags of the International Code flags, except the code pennant (see
Chart 10) and a number of special flags and pennants contained in
Charts 11 and 12.
While the alphabet flags of the
Navy Code
are same in design as those of the International Code, they have no
connection whatever. A distinct naval feature is to call the flags by
name rather than by letter, the name applied to the alphabet flags are
able for A,
boy for B,
etc., same as the conventional signals used for
telephoning on page 66.
CALLS
Each ship in the Navy is
furnished with a call, which is a combination of two letters like ZL, PN, or AD.
For
sake of convenience the first letter of a ship's call represents the
group to which that ship belongs and the second letter the ship of that
particular group.
One set of flags is used for the
group and another for the ship.
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FIG. 27
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The two-letter call of
each
ship is made by using one of the call
flags and one of the call
pennants. (See Chart 11.)
In
order to furnish calls to squadrons, divisions, etc., of a fleet
additional flags are used for indicator flags and will be found on
Chart 12 under the title, Squadron, Division, Torpedo Flotilla and
Submarine Flotilla.
The call of a particular ship
wanted to
take a message would be made (in case of a number of naval ships of
various classes in immediate vicinity) by its indicator flag with call
letters hoisted underneath.
Where a general call
or message is
to be given to all ships within signal distance, the cornet flag is
hoisted without individual call letters and all ships are required to
answer.
All naval vessels passing at sea always
hoist their
call letters. The answering pennant is used to answer all flag signals,
and is hoisted from point best seen (at truck or either side of the
signal yard) and is kept there until ship signaling hauls down the
signal. The answering pennant is also used as a divisional point in
making a numeral hoist.
The
alphabet flags from Q
to Z are
designated as numerals from 1 to
respectively and are so indicated when the numeral flag precedes them
on a hoist.
The repeaters 1st, 2d and 3d serve to
reproduce
numeral hoisted above them. The first repeater would act as a repeater
for the first flag, 2d repeater for second and so on. For example, the
numeral 232 would be hoisted using the numeral flag followed by R(2),
S(3) and first repeater.
The numeral 2222 would be
hoisted R(2) 1st, 2d, and. 3d repeaters.
The
Preparatory Flag (L) means prepare to execute signal shown. It is also
used as a time signal by the flagship or senior ship present, in which
case it is hoisted at 6:55 A. M. and hauled down promptly at 7 A. M. It
also indicates that the
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uniform
of crew is same as yesterday. When hoisted at 7 : 45 A. M. over a
numeral it indicates the size of the ensign (colors) ships are to hoist
at 8 A.M. It is hauled down at 8 A. M. and all ships then hoist the
national colors.
The Interrogatory Flag (O)
hoisted over a signal changes its meaning into the interrogatory form.
The
Affirmative Flag (P) when hoisted in answer to a signal means yes, or
permission granted.
The Negative Flag (K) when
hoisted in answer to a signal means no, or request not granted.
The
Annulling Flag (N) annuls all signals at time display on the same mast,
hoisted alone it annuls a previous signal which has just been made.
The
Quarantine Flag (Q) hoisted at foremast truck indicates ship is under
quarantine or has an infectious disease aboard.
The
Guard and Guide Flag, when hoisted at fore truck in port between
sunrise and sunset, indicates that that ship is charged with the guard
duty for that day (a red truck light is used at night at foremast).
When
hoisted by a ship under way it indicates that that ship is to guide the
formation.
The
guard flag is displayed on all the small boats belonging to the ship
doing guard duty. The guard flag, however, is not displayed in any way
by a flagship if they are performing that duty.
The
Convoy and
Position Pennant is worn at the foretruck of all ships on convoy duty;
in formation, when hoisted at dip it signifies "I am temporarily out of
position.'
The Danger and Designating Flag hoisted
alone means
danger ahead; a compass signal under it signifies the direction from
which danger is expected.
The Dispatch and
Breakdown Flag (I)
when worn at main truck indicates that that ship is on dispatch duty;
in fleet formation this flag is always kept rounded up ready to "break"
at
91 GILBERT SIGNAL
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foretruck
and when "broke," it signifies a breakdown of ships machinery or the
steering gear. In case of a man overboard it is "broken" and lowered at
dip.
The General and Boat Recall Flag. Hoisted
alone this flag
calls all the small boats back to their respective ship at once. When
hoisted under a number it recalls only that boat or boats having these
numbers. At night small boats are recalled by the display of I followed
by boat numbers and the call letters of ship signaling.
The
Powder and Firing Flag (B) is displayed at the foremast of all naval
vessels engaged in taking on board explosives, such as loaded shells,
fuel oil or gasoline.
The Meal, Full Speed and
Flag Officer
Leaving Pennant, when hoisted singly at the port yardarm by a ship at
anchor, signifies that crew is at meal ; if hoisted at sea on same
yardarm with the speed cone, it means one knot faster than standard
speed; alone with speed cone it denotes full speed; and when hoisted
under the flag of any flag officer it conveys the fact that that
officer is leaving the ship.
The Battle Efficiency
Pennant is
shown at the foremast (when ship is at anchor) of ship or ships which
are authorized to fly same. The Battle Efficiency Pennant is awarded
each year by the Navy to one ship in each of the battleship, submarine
and torpedo boat class for excelling in gunnery and engineering for
that particular year.
The Church Pennant is
hoisted over the
ensign while divine services are being held, it is the only flag ever
hoisted over the ensign for any reason whatsoever.
The
Red
Cross Flag is an International flag flown by all hospital ships, their
small boats and also flown at Naval Field Hospitals. The flag is flown
at the bowstaff on ships.
The Submarine Warning
Flag is hoisted and flown by any vessel or small boat acting as a
mother ship or fender to sub-
92 GILBERT BOY
ENGINEERING
marines, and
it signifies that submarines are submerged or operating in that
vicinity.
U. S. NAVAL FLAG ETIQUETTE
Every
ship in the U. S. Navy carries a complete set of the various national
ensigns of other countries. Some nations have two ensigns, each
different in design, one for men-of-war and another for merchant
vessels. In the case of the United States government the national
colors are alike for both naval and merchant ships.
The
national ensigns of foreign countries are flown from the main mast of
U. S. Naval vessels on occasions such as a visit irom the head of a
foreign government or any other high officials, either diplomatic,
military or naval. In American or foreign waters, on occasion of such a
visit, the national ensign of the country the official represents is
made up and "broke" at main mast as the visitor or visitors step
aboard. At time flag is broken the saluting battery fires the proper
salute that the visitor is entitled to.
U. S.
Naval ships upon
entering a foreign port always "break" the national ensign of the
nation visited and fire a salute of twenty-one guns. The salute is
answered by the highest official present from either a naval vessel or
a military shore station or fort.
U. S. Naval
ships passing
other men-of-war or merchant ships at sea always dip the colors in
answer to the same courtesies. It is customary for merchant ships of
either U. S. or foreign countries to dip colors to the men-of-war
first. However, in case of naval vessels meeting, the junior officer
always dips first to his senior. No salutes are fired as a rule to
naval officers of a rank lower than a flag officer, which in the U. S.
Navy is a Rear Admiral or above in rank, except where an officer lower
in rank may be acting in that capacity.
93 GILBERT SIGNAL
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TIME FOR FLYING COLORS
The
time for flying of the national ensign on naval ships is given by the
senior officer present. The size of colors to be used is also
designated by signal. As a general rule the colors are hoisted at 8
A.M. in port and at the flagstaff at stern of ship with the proper
ceremonies. At sea the colors are hoisted at the gaff (small spar
projecting from the main mast). The colors are lowered at sunset with
the same ceremonies, but at sea the colors are usually replaced after
being lowered by a smaller ensign which flies all night, as do certain
other special designator and personal flags. It is not customary to
signal by means of flags before morning or after evening colors.
The
Union Jack is hoisted in port only and at jackstaff in bow. It is
hoisted at morning colors and lowered at evening colors. The Union Jack
hoisted at fore signal yard indicates there is a general court martial
or court of inquiry being held aboard. When hoisted for such purposes a
gun is fired. The Union Jack hoisted at foremast truck calls a pilot
aboard.
PERSONAL FLAGS
Chart
13 gives the personal flags of the higher officers in U. S. Navy, along
with special distinguishing flags of the naval militia and yachts.
The
President's Consular and flags of Secretaries of the Navy are used on
any visit to a naval vessel by these officials.
The
personal flags of Admiral, Vice Admiral and the Rear Admirals are flown
at the main mast truck of their respective flagships.
The
Blue
Pennant of Senior Officer present is known by the ship having the
senior officer of any group of naval vessels in the absence of a flag
officer.
All naval ships in commission fly the
commission pennant at
94 GILBERT BOY
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the
main mast truck. This pennant really acts as a personal flag of the
commander of the ship and in case of a flagship it is not worn, as the
flag officer's personal flag signifies that that ship is in commission.
The Naval Militia Distinguishing Flag is worn at
foremast truck
of all naval vessels loaned by the Navy department to a state for use
of Naval Militia or Naval Reserves when such vessels are under command
of Naval Militia or Reserve Officers. The Naval Militia Commission
Pennant is worn at main mast truck on such ships, and in event of ship
having a flag officer aboard his personal flag is flown instead at main
truck. The rank of Commodore is the highest in Naval Militia.
YACHT FLAGS
It
is required by law that all pleasure yachts and boats of more than 15
tons display the yacht ensign. This you will note by referring to Chart
12 is different in design from the national ensign and serves to
signify when worn that that particular ship is a pleasure boat.
Yachts
fly all personal flags in a similar way as used in Navy. For signaling,
they use all navy methods except Navy Flag Code. The substitute being
the International Flag Code for flag hoist signals.
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GILBERT SIGNAL ENGINEERING
Chapter X
MISCELLANEOUS SIGNALS
INTERNATIONAL LIFE SAVING SIGNALS
1.
Upon the discovery of a wreck at night, the life-saving shore station
burns a red light or sends up a red rocket to signify "You are seen,"
assistance will be given soon as possible.
2. A
red flag waved on shore by day or a red light or red rocket by night
means "Haul away."
3. A white flag waved on shore
by day or a white' light waved slowly or white rocket by night means
"Slack away."
4.
Two flags a white and a red waved at same time on shore by day, or two
lights a white and red swung slowly or a blue light burned by night
signifies "Do not attempt to land in your own boats, it is impossible."
5. A man on shore beckoning by day or two torches
burning
closely together by night will signify "This is the best place to
land."
SIGNALS FOR A PILOT
Any of the following
when
displayed from a ship will call a pilot :
1. The
Jack, hoisted at the foremast.
2. The
International Code pilot signal indicated by the alphabet letters P T.
3.
The International Code flag S displayed alone or with code pennant over
it.
4. The Distant Signal, with cone pointed
upward, having above it two balls or oval shapes.
96 GILBERT BOY
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5.
At night, a blue light burned at intervals of about fifteen minutes or
a bright white light flashed at short intervals just above the deck.
6.
To signal for a tow boat place the National Ensign in main rigging just
above the decks at intervals of one minute at a time.
INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS SIGNALS,
FOR DAY
1. A gun or other
explosives
fired at intervals of one minute.
2. The
International Code letters N C.
3. Fog Signal
apparatus sounded steady.
4. The Distant Signal
consisting of a cone pointed upward, having either above or below it a
ball or oval shape.
INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS SIGNALS,
FOR NIGHT
1. Gun or other shot
fired
every minute.
2. Flames of a burning tar or oil
barrel.
3. Rockets or shells throwing stars any
color at short intervals.
4. Foghorn sounded
steady.
The
United States Weather Bureau is operated under the Department of
Agriculture. The Bureau has many stations throughout the country as
well as 142 stations on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and 46 stations on
the Pacific Coast.
Weather predictions are given
out from
these stations to all the newspapers, and bulletins are furnished to
all Federal buildings for posting.
The inland
stations have
telegraphic connections with the coast stations and inform them of the
approach of severe storms. The coast stations in turn notify mariners
by means of flag signals and radio.
97 GILBERT SIGNAL
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All the civilized
nations of
the world maintain a similar system in which their coast stations give
information to ships.
The
Weather Signal flags may be seen by turning to colored Chart 14; at
bottom of same chart are storm and wind signal flags, along
with night
lantern signals.
The Weather and Storm Signal
flags when
displayed on a flag pole are arranged to read from top down. When
single hoists of several flags are made on a signal yard a small
streamer is used to indicate the point from which signals are to be
read.
Temperature forecasts signals are made by
using the weather flags, five in number four square flags and one
pennant.
The
flags are displayed at weather bureau stations as follows, and indicate
weather predictions for next twenty-four hours, commencing at 8 P.M. of
day the signals are made :
1. Square white flag
indicates clear or fair weather.
2. Square blue
flag indicates rain or snow.
3.
Square flag white on upper half and blue on lower half indicates local
rains or showers will occur and that rainfall will not be general.
4.
Square white flag with black square center indicates the approach of a
sudden and decided drop in temperature a cold wave.
5.
Black pennant is used to refer to temperature and has no meaning
hoisted alone. In no case is it ever hoisted with the square white flag
with black center. (Cold wave flag.)
The black
pennant hoisted
above square white flag, blue flag and white and blue flag indicates
warmer weather along with the regular indication that that flag stands
for. When hoisted below any of these flags it means colder weather.
Storm
and Wind Signals. The warnings adopted by the U. S. Weather Biireau to
announce the approach of wind storms are as follows : (See bottom of
colored Chart 14.)
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The
Small Craft Warning. A red pennant indicates that
moderately strong
winds that will interfere with the safe operation of small craft are
expected. No night display of small craft warnings is made.
The
Northeast Storm Warning. A red pennant above a square red
flag with
black center displayed by day or two red lanterns, one above the other,
displayed by night indicates the approach of a storm of marked violence
with winds beginning from the northeast.
The Southeast Storm
Warning. A red pennant below a square red flag with black
center
displayed by day or one red lantern displayed by night indicates the
approach of a storm of marked violence with winds beginning from the
southeast.
The Southwest Storm
Warning.
A white pennant below
a square red flag with black center displayed by day or a white lantern
below a red lantern displayed by night indicates the approach of a
storm of marked violence with winds beginning from the southwest.
The
Northwest Storm Warning. A white pennant above a square
red flag with
black center displayed by day or a white lantern above a red lantern
displayed by night indicates the approach of a storm of marked violence
with winds beginning from the northwest.
Hurricane or Whole
Gale Warning. Two square red flags with black centers, one
above the
other, displayed by day or two red lanterns, with a white lantern
between, displayed by night indicates the approach of a tropical
hurricane, or one of the extremely severe and dangerous storms which
occasionally move across the Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast,
99
Chapter XI
HOW TO MAKE SIGNAL
APPARATUS
Flag
Making. The most suitable material for flag making is
either galatea or
calico. The color and dimensions of the cloth are dependent upon type
of flag wanted and the size.
The tools necessary
are a
straight-edged yardstick or ruler, a soft pencil or chalk for marking
off the cloth, an old safety razor blade or a pair of scissors for
cutting and needle and thread for stitching flag together. You can get
your mother or sister to do all sewing required on the sewing machine.
Making
Wigwag Flags. The standard dimensions of the wigwag flags
used by the
Signal Corps are the 3-foot, 9-inch square flag with 12-inch square
center and the 2-foot square flag with 8-inch square center.
The
2-foot size flag is large enough for most signaling and it will be best
for you to adopt this size or possibly smaller as the larger type is
only useful in case of extreme distances. The 12-foot staff necessary
to carry a flag this large is very hard to handle.
The
2-foot
wigwag flag needs a staff 5j4 feet in length. If flag is made smaller
than this the staff can be made shorter and the center square can be
cut down to a proportionate size.
The color
combinations for
wigwag flags are turkey red and white, or scarlet and yellow. Blue and
white is sometimes used and is very good, but red and white is the
best.
Flags can be made up using any of above
combinations,
alternating the colors of the body of the flag and center for use
against different backgrounds.
100
GILBERT BOY ENGINEERING
FLAG
MAKING
CHART 16
The
Science Notebook