CAB11-57-17 — Page 199

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CHAPTER VII (L),

45. Communication between Examination Steamer and Examination Battery. Although it will not be necessary for pre-arranged signals to pass between the examina- tion steamer and the examination battery regarding the character of incoming vessels, the personnel of the steamer should include men who are efficient in signalling by day and night.

The flashing system by night and the semaphore by day, supplemented by the megaphone and if necessary the fog-horn, are to be used for any necessary communica-

tions.

46. In order to make certain of messages between the examination steamer and the examination battery being clearly understood, the following procedure in calling up and acknowledging is to be used:

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.

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

By Night. The examination steamer and the examination battery will mutually

call one another up by a succession of X's (- 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

During a Fog.--Communication will be by megaphone, fog-horn, steam whistle,

or syren, the procedure being the same as that by night.

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IV. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXAMINING OFFICER.

47. List of vessels due at the Port.--The Chief Examining Officer will be furnished by the colonial harbour master with a list giving the particulars of vessels the expected arrival of which has been notified by the local shipping agents or otherwise.

48. Record of vessels Examined, &c. Each Examining Officer is to keep a record of all vessels communicated with by the examination steamer of which he is in charge during the time she is on duty, showing the names of the vessels and the times at which they were passed in or otherwise dealt with. All special circumstances are to be entered. Form S.-554, Boarding Book, should be used for this purpose.

49. H.M. ships and torpedo craft.--The Examining Officer has no responsibility in connection with the entry of H.M. ships and torpedo craft.

50. Neutral war vessels. -When notification has been received of the intended arrival of a neutral war vessel, the Examining Officer may, if necessary, be instructed to meet such vessel, and give her the special signal of the day, vide paragraph 33.

51. Examining Officers to collect Intelligence.-The Examining Officers are to ascertain from vessels on arrival whether they have sighted any war or merchant vessels belonging to the enemy. Any information obtained is to be taken down in writing and forwarded at once to the Senior Naval Intelligence Officer at Hong Kong. (The form shown in Appendix G should be used).

52. Merchant vessels to be Warned.-Merchant vessels are to be warned by the Examining Officer (and also by the pilot, vide paragraph 6) on boarding, that no boat is to be lowered or put off from them whilst at the emamination anchorage, and that they must not leave the anchorage by night at all nor by day unless they have been given the special signal for the day. Any infringement of these instructions will cause them to be treated as hostile, and the shore batteries will take immediate action accordingly.

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