Tryon often withheld explanations because he wanted junior officers to handle unpredictable situations, yet he was also a strict disciplinarian who kept the fleet in continuous exercises. Before practical wireless, his available tools were signal flags, semaphore, and signal lamps. He increased the columns' speed to 8.8 knots before ordering the inward turn. An 800-yard tactical circle was only an average, and similarly shaped ships would not necessarily turn identically. The signal book had no preset code for the maneuver, so each division received a separate order containing the ambiguous phrase "preserving the order of the fleet." Markham delayed acknowledgement because he could not see how to turn safely, while the fleet continued toward shore. Tryon's public semaphore asked, "What are you waiting for?" Markham later admitted that the rebuke stung him, and he immediately ordered the turn even though other officers still expected a correction.
Chapter · 1:00:34-1:06:37
Tryon's signaling method and Markham's delay
Limited signaling tools, an ambiguous two-part order, and a public rebuke turned Markham's recognized safety concern into reluctant compliance.