Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-10-26
IN SPITE OF SHAFTER.
Greelcy's Sigma Corps Worked
Wei In Cuba.
OPERATIONS OF IMMENSE VALUE.
shafter. Says Greedy, Was Responsible
For the Fatal Balloon Blunder Mem
bers signal Corps First Located Ger
vera's Fleet ut Santiago.

General A. w. Ofeel6y, Cn1ef Sl8nal
officer, presented to Secretary Alger hia
report of the operations of the signal
corps during the recent war with Spain.
He intimated that the corps officers
in Cuba were handicapped because they
were not allowed to take with them the
/ signal corps telegraph train which had
been sent TO Tampa for the Santiago ex-
petition. He then adds the following:
"The lack of thoroughly trained men
was not the only serious factor that
threatened the efficiency Of the signal
work. Seeing that visual signaling,
which the commanding general of the
Fifth army corps relied upon contrary
! to professional advice, was practically
impossible for land operations, ana
only useful between the coast stations
and the fleet, it is impossible to surmise
what would have been the result had it
not been for the supply of insulated
wire Geographic and telephone instru-
ments, etc., which Lieutenant Colonel
Allen furnished to Lieutenant Colonel
Green"
General Greeley pointed out that at
all critical periods of the campaign Gen
eral Shafter was kept in direct COM
munication by telephone with his sub
ordinate commanders, the lines being
uninterruptedly maintained under an
almost constant fire of the enemy.
Special stress is laid upon the value of
the signal corps facilities in directing
the tlre OF the naval vessels. The ar
rangements were 50 complete and ex-
cellent that the major general com.
manding was able to communicate di-
rectly with the admiral commanding
the fleet, and Ill addition communicate
with the war department. within 20
minutes. General Greeley says that
this telegraphic and telephone service
did not fan within the plans of the
major general commanding
Further along be said: @In addition
it is not pleasant to surmise what might
have been the fate of the fever stricken
army in Santiago &c Cuba had its for
tune and movements been debated by
mail instead OF by electrical communi-
cation.
General Greeley strongly commended
the use Of the war balloon and declares
that it's utility was strongly demon
strated Concerning the criticism made
of the balloon operations at Santiago
he said i'll part:
"The forcing of the signal corps bal
ton is reported to have caused serious
loss to the troops by disclosing their
movements and attracting the enemy's
fire, was the action of Major General
Shafter through his chief engineer,
Colonel George Nee. DENLY, in the
face of the professional advice given by
Lieutenant Colonel Maxfeld of the
United States volunteer signal corps. .
General Greeley said that ''the sig
nal corps failed to receive from Major
General Shafter in his original report
even notice that it participated in the
Santiago campaign"
General Greeley's report indicated
that the credit for the location of Adj
miral Ceryera's fleet III Santiago har-
Dor belongs to the signal corps, and says
that sin the interest OF history, let
alone Justice to the signal corps of the
army, the truth should he told. The To-
cation of Ceryera,s squadron at Santi-
ago was first made by Colonel James
Allen, and later verified independently
| by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Max
field both officers of the signal corps
1 The blockading of Cervera S squadron
was due to the conservative action c2
the president and secretary of navy,
based on reports and representations
made personally to them by the chief
signal officer of the army"
Further along the report said that
! Colonel Allen furnished cipher advices
of the most valuable sort from Santiago
almos- daily. He reported that the
Spanish squadron was short of coal and
could not renew its supply at Santiago,
and also that the uuarmored American
cruisers off the Cuban coast "were mis-
taken by the Spanish for the main
! American fleet, " proving, says General
/ Greeley. s.the wisdom and efficacy of
Admiral SIMPSONS orders by cable that
the fast unarmored cruisers OF the navy
should perform scouting duty off Santi-
ago"
AT another point he said: "It is an
interesting anti-climax that when Ger,
vera's squadron was destroyed, on July
3, Colonel Allen, the same officer who
originally reported the arrival OF the
fleet on the very day it reached Santi-
ago, likewise reported by telegraph to
the chief signal officer the fact that the
entire fleet had been destroyed. which
information was conveyed to the presi
dent and the country Il hours in ad-
vance of any other official advice.
Alph us AFTER Dr. Not Assign
LISBON, o., Oct. 26.--Soa sac of the q y
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