Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-10-28
WORK OF THE SIGNAL CORPS.
Gen. Greeys Report on the Progress Made by
his Bureau.

WAsutxGrux, Oct. o7.-ten. 4. W.
Greelv, chief signal officer, in bis annual
report to the secretary of war dwells at
length upon the value to the country of the
900 miles of military line which have been
successfully maintained in operation during
the year by the signal corps.
With an eve to the demands of modern
warfare, special attention has been given to
the equipment of field or flying telegraph
trains for armies operating away from the
permanent telegraph lines of the country.
The field telephone kit, wherewith a NOV
ing line can keep in communication with its
brigade or division commander. has
been satisfactorily devised. For the first
time since the war. the Signal Corps
constructed a field telegraph line for the
use of the Mexican boundary commission
between Separ, New Mexico, and the
Corner" a distance of y miles. Twelve
miles of wire were run the first day in eight
hours In l. days the command unloaded
the material, erected and maintained the
line in an unfayorahle country until it was
no longer required. and dcmantlcd and
shipped it, all with unframed help for the
officers.
Much space is devoted to a summary of
the experiments made by other nations with
military balloons, an exclusively American
idea first used by Gen. Porter and developed
by European military powers. II IS said
that 50 far these experiment have not proved
the advisability of replacing the captive
balloon of Gen. Porter by free balloons,
hut the important part to he played IN
future wars by free dirigblc balloons
or by flying machines is said to he
objectionable. Consequently, Il balloon
section is being organized with each flying
telegraph train, to operate captive balloon
to collect military information AMI transmit
il to the ground by telephone cable The
English system of u captive skin balloon
with portable cylinders containing hydrogen
gas under the great pressure of l2o atmos-
phcres ha. been adopted as the standard.
I,y this system the men may fill the balloon
ami make an assent of half mile or more
in half an hour Such balloon viii he
exhibited by the Signal Corps at the Worlds
Fair next year.
The heliograph has been perfected SO
that messages may be- sent by its light beam
distances ranging go 10 100 mites.
The obvious advantage arising from con
certed action in hsrbor defense, insured
through reliable and instant communication
betw cen the more important forts AMI har-
bor ,lefenses. has led Zen. Greedy to submit
a special estimate of 5000 to initiate a sys-
tenn of military cables AMI connecting lines
in New York Boston and San Francisco.
\ simple system of thistle signals. based
on the service code has been devised for
transmission of orders 10 troops in the eE-
tended or open formation and is nov un-
der consideration by the major seneral
commanding.
In conclusion. Gen Greeley speaks en-
couragingly of the growing interest mani
Tested by the militia of the United States-
and he suggests that the militia act be
amended so rs to permit signal stores to he
issued to the state guards upon acquisitions
as part of their alIotments.