Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-11-13
Gods
Sarsaparilla
To G. 1. Hood 3 Co., Projectors, lowell, Mass
=, =, 80, are the best after-dlnner
A FIELD TELEGRAPH.
Workings of This Important Adjunct
ofthe Brltlsh-Ashanti Expedition.

VI tlC DiluSH-fNOuathG NPodttOH'
Much valuable information on the
working of field telegraphs in war
operations is afforded in the report
OF the construction, maintenance
and method OF working OF the tele-
graph during the recent British
Ashanti expedition. The construc-
ton party which left Cape Coast
castle to run the line to Kumassi
consisted OF two officers, l6 non
commissioned officers and men and
125 natives.
The mode of working was as fol-
lows: Four natives, carrying bar
row with drum of cable, marched in
front, superintendent by noncom-
missioned officer, and sspper reel
ing-out cable. In the rear came a
number of natives, carrying a
further supply of cable (half-mile Of
cable per man), small stores, kits,
accouterments, etc. Close to the
paying-out drum was native carry.
ing portable vibrator, set so that
communication could be established
at any time In the rear came two
or three natives, with supervising
sspper, who placed the cable out of
harms way. 1t was found that the
cable oould be laid as fast rs the
men could march. Tho work OF con-
ssrueting tho regular line WAC most
EEdpous. Tho road was but eight
feet wide, worry tortuous, and
bounded on either side by dense
bush; the bush in places mot over
head. The large trees were covered
with enormous creepsrs, which veTe
infested With insects.
Tho officer, or nonoommissionod
od'oer, in charge usually went ahead
choosing the direction, eight to teu
NATIVES With hammer and jumper,
ladder, etc., under . noncom-
missioned othosr followed, fixing
poles or insulators as directed. Tho
wire barrow, carried by natives,
came noxt The rear party consisted
Of two or three sappers, who had to
az tho wire and generally build tho
line, Those men were the hard
est worked OF the detachment, be-
ing constantly up ladders exposed to
The sun, having to do manual work,
for which the natives were useless.
Ons OF the great sources OF annoy
anoe and hindrance was insects.
The mon were often driven down tho
ladder by swarm OF ants, which |
the hannering OF spikes,
ETC., into q tree. In many places
tho creeperS were SO numerous that
1t was with the greatest difficulty !
tho line could be kept free from
them.
The natives became fairly skilliul !
with the hammer and jumper, but
could not be trusted az linemen, as
Ehsy loitered at every chance and .
inspected the line very specifically.
The faults along the line were, in
'very instance due either to falling
,rees, caused by storms, etc., or to
natives cutting pieces out OF the
wires for ornaments, bracelets, etc.
n one instance as much as so yards
we're taken, and trinkets galore Of
original design were subsequently
ound in the adjacent village. A
loncommisSioned officer, or sapper,
vas left, with four natives, at every
2 miles. He had all the necessary
oolS, and acted as lineman and
'atrol. Thunderstorms played havoc
Nth the line, but communication
vas in every case soon re-
tored. There was good deal Of
ever among the men who had to
the line The total number
u messages Of ali kinds sent over
he line during the expedition was
1892.