Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-20
Old and New War TeIeqraphy.

IL Is impossible to CVereStimate the
change i'll the art Of war produced by the
invention of teiegraphy. Conflicts be-
tween nations have been UNNECESSARILY
facilitated. The time wasted in dispute
are now actively engaged with a foeman
in contest which. under similar condi-
tons fifty or a hundred years ago. would
nos n this period be any further ad-
vanced than its initial stages of diplo-
matte remonstrance and rejonier. Be
fore Morse and his helpers came 10 the
rescue of a humanity at the mercy of
distance, it would have required two
weeks TO send an ultimatum to the Span
iSh government and two weeks 10 learn
that Minister WoodfOrd had been given
his passports. 1t has been always re-
g1roed as an essential part of the science
OF warfare to be forewarned of danger
and of an enemy moves, SO that advan-
tAge might be taken of mistakes and sur
urises guarded against Few men stop
u think of the strands OF wire running
along the oceans bottom which guard
us like 4 shield, but the fact remains
that, with the cables working. Spain can
do nothing of Importance without our
knowledge. Not Il single transport con-
NcYing a thousand troops can leave Ca
diz for Cuba but that we are aware of
1t days before lis arrival. As the tele-
graph hurries declarations of war, so it
cXpedites negotiations for peace. When
The d0nS have decided to quit a losing
game we VIII know it on the day of the
decision.
Today all warlke preparations are
known, Spain WAS aware of every move
made by the United States previous to
the opening Of the struggle. and the
United States knew of the singular APP
athy OF Spain. In 1906 Prussia resolved
to 80 to war The resolution was taken
Au2. :. ana active preparations were al
once begun. 1t WIS late in september be
fore Napoleon WAS aware of his enemy :
IintentiOn. The prusslanS thus gained an
II @ -
these our times the government which
gains an advantage of seven hours must
be exceedingly active. In former days
wars continued always for some days af-
agreed unOn the terms of peace, for the
reason that it was impossible to get the
Intelligence to the front in time to stop
thu slaughter. II there had been wire
telegrarhy in the carly part of this cen
turY there would have been no battle of
New Orleans. Nov there is no battling
after an armisticc has been made
The American civil war saw the great
est development Of the military telegraph
and gave to the world the example OF
its first systematic use. This was TO
have been foretold from knowledge OF
| the inventive and timc-SaVng character
of the nation. With us the extension of
| the silent and wonderful wires first as
sumcd gigantic proportions, an the en-
| cheney of American battlefield teitSraphy
still remains the stan lard. although more
| than thirty years have elapsed. It's val
| ne to the government during the -FOUR
years of strife cannot be tod IN cold
| type One of the least of the inlaSs IL
| did WAS to save the capital or NdSnillS-
| ton time and again. News of the ilrst
| shot fired at Fort Sumter was flashed to
Lincoln. and Lincoln's call for 900" vol
| unteers was flashed through the country
| by the three companies then III existence
the American Telegraph Company the
| Western Union Telegraph Company and
the Southwestern Telegraph Company
| In 1862 all federal headquarters were con-
| nected by wire with Fortress Monroe
AMI the farthest stations of this system
were lust utsde Of the confederate zone
Of fire From April . to NOV. 10 lS9i
! 1877 miles of military telegraph WAS puit'
| There were 100 Offices and l65 operators;
| During the war the construction reached
| $50 miles and 6,J0000 messages were
sent. at a cost of S32l9' 400
These lines were composed OF lnSuiatco
wire. often wound on reel. which was
| attached to the back Of mule II wa
| spun out or taken up as the TIDE OF pa L
RI. advanced or recedel. That IS the
method today for field work. Mli ~ d r, y
| telrcraDh systems consist of three klh,iS
Of wires" permanent" which are me
| lines along railways and main traNelin;l
roads. by which the initiatory 3uNdll i.,,,a ~
made: "semi-permanent, Whlch u'i'rS
headquarters with the base OF suppl!tts
wings in front to headquarters. nee
reticallv. hea lquarters are always !,
| The exact center and to the rear. ~ NJ
| he field lines back to it form wv
| si,fos nf - triangle of which the advance
line is the base and the headquafttt
form the apex. AS the army n'o ,,.'tt ~ II
ward and headquarters move W., ,tar,,a a.
The field wires become semi per i.la "a
nent.' and may in time eventua'e M. ~,
.'pernanent." The lines. of course, at'
vulnerable They can ne VI, an dnnt
still, they can be tapped, fod nrs III
aiGiro canoral Morgan carried with MN