Radio age (Jan-Dec 1924)

n KADIO AGE Jor May, 1924 The Magazine of the Hour P/67AIL tvif?E V03 &£££F SfoPS -/K"5ULA7/At& Bl&"M <:oa/a/ecT/oa i How the "SOS" Originated The origin of the distress call of ships at sea. familiar to all operators and many fans, has caused considerable curiosity, and in order that a complete report could be made, the Bureau of Navigation of the Department of Commerce asked the International Bureau of The Telegraph Union at Berne for a resume of the origin and history of "SOS." According to advices just received from M. Etienne, director, the first suggestion of a distress call for ships was made by the Italian delegates to the preliminary conference on wireless telegraphy at Berlin in 1903. They urged the adoption of a universal signal, "SSSDDD," to be sent by ships in distress, explaining that all stations and ships should be obliged to receive the following messages, suspending their other communications and passing immediately to reception. The other delegates agreed to the need for such a signal, but left the final decision to a special conference. Soon after this suggestion, the Marconi Company recognized the need for a distress call, and on February 1, 1904, the famous call "CQD" was instituted on all their ships by a general order. This signal was a combination of the genera! call "CQ" coupled with the letter "D," to signify distress. It was used only at the order of the captain of a ship in distress, or a station retransmitting the signal. All stations were to recognize the urgency of the call and make every effort to establish satisfactory communication without delay. The dismissal of operators was to follow the misuse of the call. Several countries, including the United States, adopted "CQD" and used it until the Berlin regulations were ratified. At the Radio Telegraphic Conference in Berlin in 1906, the German Government COA/A/ECT/OAJ Sm7V£ submitted the following suggestion relative to a standard distress call: "Ships in distress will make use of the following special danger signal: . . ---... (SOS)." Previously German ships desiring to communicate with all vessels in their proximity without knowing their names of calls would send an inquiry signal, "SOE." Germany planned to suggest this signal as the international signal, but as the last letter, "E," represented by a single dot, was not believed sufficiently characteristic, being easily susceptible to loss, especially during atmospheric disturbances or in heavy traffic, or when carelessly transmitted, the delegates in 1006 suggested the final letter as "S," thereby having the honor to define what became the universal signal, "...---..." "SOS." Interpretations such as "save our souls," "save our ships," given the call, the Berne Bureau points out, should be accepted with reserve. The Italian proverb: "If it is not true, it is well invented," they suggest is applicable to the literal translations offered. In a similar manner, Berne reports, the Marconi signal. "CQD," has been interpreted to mean "come quick danger " The distress signal, "SOS," was adopted officially and put into effect by the International Radio Telegraphic Convention of Berlin in July, 1908. It was a matter of keen regret to the Marconi operators that their old signal, "CQD," was not adopted, and many continued to send "CQD" as well as "SOS" when accidents occurred. "CQD," however, was gradually forgotten. In 1912 the United States adopted "SOS" when the international agreement was accepted. The signal today is "SOS" without spaces, the Berne Bureau explains, and should not be sent ... .... but /v# £ ee<F&s TH/N IA/OO0£N TACK* cAQDROfy*D ro*z F'&u/ze sr