The wig-wag code, as used in the United States Navy, consists of a series of numbers that represent the letters of the alphabet. They are delivered by a red flag bearing a white square in its center. The code that Dan spelled out is as follows:
A .................. 22 O .................. 21
B .................. 2112 P .................. 1212
C .................. 121 Q .................. 1211
D .................. 222 R .................. 211
E .................. 12 S .................. 212
F .................. 2221 T .................. 2
G .................. 2211 U .................. 112
H .................. 122 V .................. 1222
I .................. 1 W .................. 1121
J .................. 1122 X .................. 2122
K .................. 2121 Y .................. 111
L .................. 221 Z .................. 2222
M .................. 1221 End of word ........ 3
N .................. 11 End of sentence .... 33
The flag with which the numbers are made is attached to a staff just long enough to handle easily. Before beginning the message the flag staff is held perpendicularly in front of the operator. Dipping the flag once to the left, at right angles to the body, indicates the figure two. Dipping it once to the right indicates the figure one. Dipping it forward once, away from the body means the figure three. For instance, if the flag be dipped twice to the left, the operator will have made the signal "twenty-two," meaning A.
"I will now spell the words 'Battleship Boy,';' he said, beginning a slow movement of the wig-wag flag, making the following figures:
"2112, 22, 2, 2, 221, 12, 212, 122, 1, 1212, 3, 2112, 21, 111, 212."
"We will now begin practicing the code in groups of three letters," said the instructor.
For a full hour he put the young jackies through their paces. By the time the bugle blew his class had learned nearly half the signal alphabet.
"If you will practice these movements, using your hands in place of flags, this evening, you will have fixed the numbers and the letters that they represent so firmly in your minds that you will not be likely to forget them. Do it at every opportunity before turning in to-night. I shall expect each of you to be letter-perfect in the morning. Once more, now, call the letters as I make them. I will give you only what you have had this afternoon. Begin with the first man in line."
