SIGNAL MISUNDERSTOOD

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 January 1926, Page 5

SIGNAL MISUNDERSTOOD

OPERATOR’S MISTAKE. RECENT REPORT EXPLAINED. AN OLD CODE, USED. BY.', CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT (Received Jan. 4, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. The misreading of a signal by a wireless operator aboard the Spanish steamer Maria Victoria was apparently responsible for the recent anxiety concerning the liner Coronado. The master of the Maria Victoria, which arrived at Clyde, interviewed by a representative of Lloyd ’s, said that they picked ui> a message from, the Coronado reading “CQ,” which, he under, stood, meant “want assistance,’’ but, wirelessing back to the Coronado, they received no reuly. The wireless operator’s handbook shows “CQ“ to be a simple call signal. It is surmised that by some freak of memory the signal “C.Q-D.,” which .years ago preceded < cg.o.S. ’ ’ as the official distress call, was recalled to tlie master of the Victoria’s mind. —Reuter. [A message was published on 31st December to tlie effect that a wireless message intercepted at Land’s End indicated that the steamer Coronado,_ en route from Avonmouth to Jamaica, was in need of assistance. The message stated that the vessel was in a raging hurricane. There were on hoard 102 officers and men. and 54 passengers.]