Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 Part 55

Execute. IX, IX Move to your right. MR Move to your left. ML Move up. MU Move down. MD Finished . . . - . - None.

Visual Signaling: By Flag (Wig-Wag), Torch, Hand Lantern, or Beam or Searchlight (Without Shutter).

GENERAL SERVICE CODE.

23. For the flag used with the General Service Code there are three motions and one position. The position is with the flag held vertically, the signalman facing directly toward the station with which it is desired to communicate. The first motion (the dot) 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 (the dash) is a similar motion to the left of the sender. The third motion (front) is downward directly in front of the sender and instantly returned upward to the first position. Front is used to indicate an interval.

24. The beam of the searchlight, though ordinarily used with the shutter like the heliograph, may be used for long-distance signaling, when no shutter is suitable or available, in a similar manner to the flag or torch, the first position being a vertical one. A movement of the beam 90 to the right of the sender indicates a dot, a similar movement to the left indicates a dash; the beam is lowered vertically for front.

25. To use the torch or hand lantern, a foot light must be employed as a point of reference to the motion. The lantern is most conveniently swung out upward to the right of the footlight for a dot, to the left for a dash, and raised vertically for front.

NOTE.--To call a station, make the call letter until acknowledged, at intervals giving the call or signal of the calling station.

If the call letter of a station is unknown, wave flag until acknowledged. In using the searchlight without shutter throw the beam in a vertical position and move it through an arc of 180 in a plane at right angles to the line connecting the two stations until acknowledged. To acknowledge a call, signal "Acknowledgment" followed by the call letter of the acknowledging station.

Signaling with Heliograph, Flash Lantern, and Searchlight (With Shutter).

GENERAL SERVICE CODE.

26. The first position is to turn a steady flash on the receiving station. The signals are made by short and long flashes. Use a short flash for dot and a long steady flash for dash. The elements of a letter should be slightly longer than in sound signals.

27. To call a station, make its call letter until acknowledged.

28. If the call letter of a station be unknown, signal A until acknowledged. Each station will then turn on a steady flash and adjust. When adjustment is satisfactory to the called station, it will cut off its flash and the calling station will proceed with its message.

29. If the receiver sees that the sender's mirror or light needs adjustment, he will turn on a steady flash until answered, by a steady flash. When the adjustment is satisfactory the receiver will cut off his flash and the sender will resume his message.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TWO-ARM SEMAPh.o.r.e CODE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TWO-ARM SEMAPh.o.r.e CODE.]

30. To break the sending station for other purposes, turn on a steady flash.

SOUND SIGNALS.

56. Sound signals made by the whistle, foghorn, bugle, trumpet, and drum may well be used in a fog, mist, falling snow, or at night. They may be used with the dot and dash code.

In applying the General Service Code to whistle, foghorn, bugle, or trumpet, one short blast indicates a dot and one long blast a dash. With the drum, one tap indicates a dot and two taps in rapid succession a dash. Although these signals can be used with a dot and dash code, they should be so used in connection with a preconcerted or conventional code.

Signaling by Two-Arm Semaph.o.r.e.

HAND FLAGS.

43. Signaling by the two-arm semaph.o.r.e is the most rapid method of sending spelled-out messages. It is, however, very liable to error if the motions are slurred over or run together in an attempt to make speed. Both arms should move rapidly and simultaneously, but there should be a perceptible pause at the end of each letter before making the movements for the next letter. Rapidity is secondary to accuracy. For alphabet see pages following.

NOTE.--In making the interval the flags are crossed downward in front of the body (just above the knees); the double interval is the "chop-chop" signal made twice; the triple interval is "chop-chop" signal made three times. In calling a station face it squarely and make its call. If there is no immediate reply wave the flags over the head to attract attention, making the call at frequent intervals. When the sender makes "end of message" the receiver, if message is understood, extends the flags horizontally and waves them until the sender does the same, when both leave their stations. Care must be taken with hand flags to hold the staffs so as to form a prolongation of the arms.

LETTER CODES.

INFANTRY.

47. For use with General Service Code or semaph.o.r.e hand flags.

------------------------------------------------------------- Letter of | If signaled from | If signaled from alphabet | the rear to the | the firing line | firing line. | to the rear.

------------|------------------------|----------------------- AM | Ammunition going | Ammunition required.

| forward. | CCC | Charge (mandatory | Am about to charge | at all times). | if no instructions | | to the contrary.

CF | Cease firing. | Cease firing.

DT | Double time or "rush." | Double time or "rush."

F | Commence firing. | FB | Fix bayonet. | FL | Artillery fire is | | causing us losses. | G | Move forward. | Preparing to move | | forward.

HHH | Halt. | K | Negative. | Negative.

LT | Left. | Left.

O | What is the (R. N., | What is the (R. N., (Ardois and | etc.)? Interrogatory. | etc.)? Interrogatory.

Semaph.o.r.e | | only.) | | . . - - . . | What is the (R. N., | What is the (R. N., (All methods| etc.)? Interrogatory. | etc.)? Interrogatory.

but ardois | | and | | semaph.o.r.e.) | | P | Affirmative. | Affirmative.

RN | Range. | Range.

RT | Right. | Right.

SSS | Support going forward. | Support needed.

SUF | Suspend firing. | Suspend firing.

T | Target. | Target.

CAVALRY.

48. For use with General Service Code or semaph.o.r.e hand flags.

AM--Ammunition going forward (if signaled from the rear to the front).

Ammunition required (If signaled from the front).

CCC--Charge (if signaled rear the rear to the front).

About to charge if no instructions to the contrary (if signaled from the front).

CF--Cease firing.

DT--Double time, rush, or hurry.

F--Commence firing.

FL--Artillery fire is causing us losses.

G--Move forward (if signaled from the rear to the front). Preparing to move forward (if signaled from the front).

HHH--Halt.

K--Negative.

LT--Left.

M--Bring up the horses (if signaled from front to rear). Horses going forward (if signaled from rear to front).

O--What is the (R. N., etc.)? Interrogatory.

(Ardois and semaph.o.r.e only.) . . - - . .--What is the (R. N., etc.)? Interrogatory.

(All methods but ardois and semaph.o.r.e.) P--Affirmative.

R--Acknowledgment.

RN--Range.

RT--Right.