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Q.-Would they have been of any value to you in forecasting the typhoon of the 18th September ?
use to
A.-No.
Q.--The remarks telegraphed by competent observers in the Philippines would be of
you ?
A.—No, not at all: all the facts are condensed in the telegrains. Loose remarks outside the informatiom we receive would be useless.
Q.-I am not speaking of loose remarks. Would not your own remarks for instance be useful to other places?
A.-No and it would take up the cables too much.
Q.-A witness produced a letter (Exhibit H) purporting to have been written to the Commander of a French warship by the Director of the Sicawei Observatory in which the Director states that he sent out the following warnings on the 16th September (1) Typhoon S of Meiaco Sima, (2) Typhoon E of Formosa; did you receive these?
A.-No.
Q.-Would such warnings have predicted bad weather S of Formosa ?
A. Yes, but we had the same telegrams from there as soon as Sicawei.
Q.-Please tell me whether any and if so what weather signals were hoisted at the Signal Hill on September 13th to 17th inclusive?
A.-13th.-A depression is in the centre of the Formosa Channel moving NW. On the 14th to 17th nothing. The depression was filling up on the 14th.
Q.-At your last examination you put in your observations at the Observatory, Gap Rock and the Peak on the 17th September. You make no remarks-why not?
A. These are the observations recorded by the computers: The column head "Remarks" is for such things as thunderstorms, etc.
Q. What remarks did you issue about the typhoon of the 18th September?
A.-Exhibit D 5 produced.
Q.-Did Koshun Observatory give you any advices on the 16th which showed a typhoon E of Formosa ?
A.--No.
Q.-You said at your last examination that the first indication of a storm you had on the 18th was about 7.44 a.m. and that the time between 7.44 and 8 a.m. was occupied in consultation and observation with Mr. FIGG. Why did you not hoist the signal pending such consultation and observation?
A.-Because we did not think there was sufficient reason from the evidence we had: we have to be very careful.
(Sir HENRY BERKELEY remarked that he remembered seeing complaints made about the unnecessary hoisting of signals.)
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