CAB11-57-12 — Page 116

Page 116

131

CHAPTER VI (ii).

71

(b.) Instructions for Examination Steamers and Examination Batteries.

1. The character of all vessels approaching the port will be reported to the examination battery by the examining officer on board the examination steamer.

2. The flashing system by night and the semaphore by day, supplemented by the megaphone, are to be used for communicating between the examination vessel and the examination battery.

3. The examination battery is the only battery authorized to "bring to " vessels.

4. Unless specially ordered to open fire, other batteries should only fire on vessels which are flying the colours of an enemy, or which are recognized as belonging to an enemy, or which in any way show themselves to be hostile.

5. The examination steamer will be painted red, and will be distinguished by the following means:

By Day.--A blue ensign, and at the foremast head the special pilot flag.

By Night. Three red lights, vertically, 6 feet apart on an iron gallows at the

foremast head.

6. The approaching vessel will be reported by the examination steamer, as either—

*

'Hostile'

37

7. The signal for

or

Friendly."

а hostile" vessel is as follows:-

*--

By Day.-Letter "T" flag, and a succession of explosive sound signals. By Night.—Red long lights, and a succession of explosive sound signals.

8. In order to make certain that messages between the examination vessel and the examination battery are clearly understood, the following procedure in calling up and acknowledging is recommended:-

By Day. The military pendant should be kept bent to the halyards. When- ever communication is desired this pendant is to be hoisted close up by the sender, and "J" (alphabetical sign) shown on the semaphore. The receiver is to hoist the military pendant at the dip (half-way up) directly he perceives that a semaphore message is about to be sent him, and close up when he is ready to read. Should a word be missed the pendant is to be dipped; the sender will then repeat the message from the last word read correctly, inclusive. The pendant is to be hauled down on the conclusion of a message.

а

By Night.--The examination vessel and examination battery will mutually call

one another up by a succession of X's

&c.), flashed, -, &c.). Each

which are to be answered by a succession of T's word is also to be answered by a T. The V E sign conclude each message, which is to be acknowledged by RD(-. —••).

•) will

9. Should a steamer, not a tug, be observed approaching the port having another, apparently disabled, steamer in tow, the character of both vessels should be ascertained. 10. Should the weather be too bad to allow of boarding being carried out, but not sufficiently heavy to prevent the examination steamer being on the examination ground, she should-

If a hostile vessel is seen, make the alarm signal as usual.

If a friendly vessel is clearly identified, signal the fact of her being friendly to

the examination battery.

Page 116

Page 116

Page 116