Signals and signaling; United States. Army -- Communication systems
Although the use of but one alphabet is authorized in visual signaling
in the U. S. Army, emergencies may arise where it may be imperative to
use either the Army and Navy, the Continental Morse, or the American
Morse alphabet. Instructions for the use of either alphabet under such
conditions are given.
EXECUTION OF SIGNAL ALPHABETS.
THE ARMY AND NAVY ALPHABET.
SIGNALING WITH FLAG OR TORCH, HAND LANTERN, BEAM OF SEARCHLIGHT, AND
HELIOGRAPH.
There is one position and three motions. The position is with the flag
or other appliance held vertically, the signalman facing directly
toward the station with which it is desired to communicate, his body
erect and feet sufficiently separated to insure stable equilibrium. The
first motion ("one" or "1") is to the right of the sender, and will
embrace an arc of 90°, starting with the vertical and returning to it,
and will be made in a plane at right angles to the line connecting the
two stations. The second motion ("two" or "2") is a similar motion to
the left of the sender. The third motion ("front," "three," or "3") is
downward directly in front of the sender and instantly returned upward
to the first position.
The beam of searchlight will be ordinarily used exactly as the flag,
the first position being a vertical one.
To use the torch or hand lantern, a footlight must be used as a point
of reference to the motion. The lantern is more conveniently swung out
upward to the right of the footlight for "1," to the left for "2," and
raised vertically for "3."
In using the heliograph, the first position is to turn a steady
flash on the receiving station. The signals are made by short and
long flashes. Use short flashes for "1," two short flashes in quick
succession for "2," and a long, steady flash for "3." The elements for
a letter should be slightly longer than in sound signals.
Each word, abbreviation, or conventional signal is followed by "3."
The full address of a message is considered as one sentence and will be
followed by the signal "33."
The signal to indicate that "cipher follows" and "cipher ends" is
with the flag and torch "XC3," and with other methods, except the
International Code, by "XC." It will always precede and follow a cipher
message or such part of a plain text message as is enciphered.
The following conventional signals are authorized in the use of the
army and navy alphabet:
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