Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-06-12


~ ENERAL GREELY, Chief Sig
nal Officer of the Army, has
NJ again demonstrated the truth
of the old saying that "ne-
cessity is the mother of invention"
Battles of the future, while terrible in
effect, will be brief in duration, and the
necessity of knowing at any time what
is required at the front will be even
greater than in the past Important
also is the knowledge of the enemy's
movements before and after battle.
Outposts and guards are established to
prevent surprises, and to hold in check
the advance of an enemy until the
main body can be aroused and pre-
pared for the battle. Outposts are inn.
portant essentials to an army, and
rapid, secret communication between
them and headquarters must be main
tanned. General Greedy proposes to
establish, by simple, practical means,
all such necessary communication be-
tween brigades and divisions, divisions
and corps. and outposts with the main
guard, by the medium of an "outpost
cart" and its electric appurtenances.
The outpost cart which General
Greedy proposes to adopt for the
Army is the invention of Captain
Charles E. Kilbourne, of the Signal
Corps. The cart consists of frame of
bicycle-steel tubing, one inch in di-
ameter, mounted upon thirty-two inch
bicyle wheels, with heavy cushion
tires. The cart is arranged TO carry
five reels of cable, and one knapsack
containing an additional reel, for use
in places where the court cannot be
taken. The extreme width of the cart
is only twenty-six inches, and it can
follow any ordinary path. Its weight,
complete with spelling device, but
pounds; when loaded with the reels
wound with wire, the cart weighs 159
pounds. The cart is well balanced, and
is attached to the axle by a device
which permits the point of support to
be changed as the distribution of the
weight is modified as the cable runs
out. Each reel carries about one-third
of mile of double-conductor cable.
The ends of this cable have double
ColhCSbOAb, ny lnOhhb Va WhiCh bhcy
can be joined, so as to extend the line.
In each reel the double connector near
est the axle is connected by means OF
insulated wires, the inner conductor to
one end of the reel axle. and the out
side conductor to the other axle end
the axle ends being insulated from each
other. At the rear end of the cart is
reeing apparatus, having an automatic
spooling attachment. To be unwound,
or wound up, the reel is placed in
brackets connected with the reeling
device. The end of the axle of this
reel, which is connected with the inner
conductor cable, is placed in brackets
on the left of the cart. The socket OF
this bracket is insulated from the rest
of the bracket, and therefore from the
frame of the cart. On this bracket is
found a double connector, the insulated
screw of which is connected by an in
sulated wire to the insulated socket
and therefore with the inner conductor
cable. The outer part of the double
connector is attached to the frame of
the cart, and through this with the
bracket on the right of the cart. The
number of reels to be carried by q cart
is not necessarily limited to five. Any
reasonable additional number can be
carried in an emergency; or empty
reels can be detached from the cart
and new ones placed upon it, the ends
of the cables being readily connected.
There is practically no limit, therefore,
to the length of cables which may be
thus employed.
In connection with the cart two tel
ephone kits are used, and by attaching
the double connector OF each kit stp
one on the frame of the cart the tSHs
phone is kept in circuit az cnpve-- :
ton can be maintained. The kit is
leather case, carried by means Of
shoulder straps, and contains the bat
terry, induction coil and the combined
long distance transmitter and receiv-
ing attachments The connection be-
tween the telephone kit and the cart
may be kept up while reeling out the
cable and communication with the home
station made continuous, so that orders
to the men with the cart can be sent at
all time, and they can make reports at
any moment to the officer in charge OF
the home station. The cart, with its
load, can be readily drawn by one man
over ordinary roads. Shafts can be at
tached to the cart and horse power
used when necessary. The wire can be
paid out as fast es the cart can he
moved. By means of the reeling ap,
paratus the cable can be recovered
at the rate of about four miles
an hour, or faster if horse is en-
ployed. The cart can also be used as
field litter, and upon it wounded
man can be comfortably and quitIJy
transported to the rear. In view of
the great distance wounded men must
now be carried to be out of danger.
and secure proper medical treatment,
this means of saving time, and en-
ployed as carriers, is of great import
ance.
A device somewhat similar to that
invented by Captain Kilbourne wa,
used with great success under varyin ,