Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 54 Part 2.djvu/317

 .4 STAT.] AIULTIIATERAL- TELEC(OMMUNIATION-APR . 8, 1938 [553] (2) When circumstances permit, the transmission of the call shall be separated from the end of the alarm signal by a 2-minute silence. [554] (3) The distress call shall include: the distress signal transmitted three times, the word DE, and the call signal of the mobile station in distress transmitted three times. [555] (4) This call shall have absolute priority over other trans- missions. All stations hearing it must immediately cease all trans- mission capable of interfering with the distress traffic, and must listen on the wave used for the distress call. This call must not be sent to any particular station and shall not require an acknowledgment of receipt. E. DISTRESS MESSAGE [556] §6. (1) The distress call must be followed as soon as possible by Distress mesage. the distress message. This message shall include the distress call followed by the name of the ship, aircraft, or the vehicle in distress, information regarding the position of the latter, the nature of the distress and the nature of the help requested, and any other further information which might facilitate this assistance. [557] (2) When, in its distress message, an aircraft is unable to signal its position, it shall endeavor after the transmission of the in- complete message to send its call signal long enough so that the radio direction-finding stations may determine its position. [558] §7. (1) As a general rule, a ship or aircraft at sea shall signal its position in latitude and longitude (Greenwich) using figures, for the degrees and minutes, accompanied by one of the words NORTH or SOUTH and one of the words EAST or WEST. A period shall separate the degrees from the minutes. In some cases, the true bear- ings and the distance in nautical miles from some known geographical point may be given. [559] (2) A ship equipped with radiotelegraph apparatus, after having sent this distress message, shall transmit, to the extent practi- cable, the ship's call signal for a period long enough to enable the land and ship stations equipped with radio direction-finders to deter- mine its position. [560] (3) As a general rule, an aircraft flying over land shall signal its position by the name of the nearest locality, its approximate distance from this point, accompanied, according to the case, by one of the words NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, or WEST, or, in some cases, words indicating intermediate directions. [561] §8. The distress call and message shall be sent only by order of the master or person responsible for the ship, aircraft, or other vehicle carrying the mobile station. 1537

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