The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-10-26
BALLooN IN THE WAR.
uenercl Grpei9 o, tno gisnni Corpo r-iis d
ihs ycrg Acno uIDiiahtC

Washington, oct 25,--Brig Ge.
Greedy, chief signal officer. today pr.
sented TO Secretary Ager his report O
the operations Of the signal corps dur
las the recent war with Spain n q,
aist section Of his report Gen Gree
irumatcs that the corps officers in ca
d. were handicapped because the
we're not allowed to take with then
the signal corps telegraph train vhlcl
had ben sent 20 Tampa for the santl
ago expedition. lie then adds the fol-
lowing
The lack Of thoroughly trained mer
was not the only serious factor thai
threatened the efficiency Of the sigma
work Seeing that visual signalling
which the commanding general Of che
NTH army corps relied upon, contrary
to professional advice was practically
impossible for land operations, and on.
ly useful between the coast stations
and the fleet. nd It IL impossible -
surmise what would have teen Ri. re-
suit had It not been for tne supply OF
insulated wire. tel"sraphic and tele-
phonic instruments, etc. which Lieu
tenant Coloael Allen furnished to Lieu
tenant Colonel Greene.
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED.
Gen. Greedy discusses az length the
physical difficulties Of maintaining
communication by telephone with his
subordinate commanders, the nEcs be-
inc unlnterruptedly maintlinti undcr
ar almost constant fire VI the enemy
spsc'ai stress is laid upon ihe 'sme
of the signal corps facilities In direct
ing tho fr" OF the naval vessa f. Ths
arrangements We're 40 comol-.c nul
excellent that the major general com
mandlng was able TO communicate di-
rectly with with the admiral com
manding the fleet and in addition com
nunicate with the war department
within twenty minutes.
GREELY's REPORT.
Gen Greedy then says:
Concerning this telegraphlc and tele-
phonlc service which did not fall with
in the plans OF the major general COM
mandlng the NTH army corps and FOR
which he made no provision. the chief
sign alofficer OF the army. feels II en-
cumbent upon him TO point out It's alb
soute military necessity and value and
to indicate the extraordinary risks
which any general commanding a de-
tached army, especially one serving on
a foreign soil, assumes when he leaves
himself improvlded with telegraphlc or
telephone facilities.
Gen. Greedy is confident that during
the single month OF July the lines OF
communication maintained by his
corps in cuba We're worth more to the
nation than has been the cost OF the
signal corps OF the army from its In
ceptlon TO the present day.
WAR BALLOON ENDORSED.
lie refers to the ease with which the
major general commanding the army
communicated with the army. giving
important information and receiving
important orders He then adds: 'In
addition. IL Is not pleasant 20 surmlse
- 7hat might have been the fate OF TIE
fate OF the fever stricken army in sal
tiago de Cuba had It's fortunes aud
movements teen debated by mall in.
stead OF by electrical communication"
Gen. Greedy strongly commends the
use Of the war balloon and declares
that its utility was thoroughly demon
strated. Concerning the criticism maze
OF the balloon operations at Santiago
he says:
"The forcing OF the signal corps bal
loon to the skirmish line. where It's po-
s!tlon is reported TO have caused n SER
ious loss to the troops by disclosing
their movements and attracting the
enemy's fire. was the action OF Major
Con. stafter through his cLief engln-
eer col. George McDerby. IN the fac
OF the professional advice given h.
Lieut.. Col. Nayneld. Of the u. s. vol
untrer r'bI al cops. who is charged
with the practical operation cf the ba..
loon and who besides sharing abso-
lutely every danger 20 which Col Der
by was subjected. IN addition had his
short shot from under him.
SIGNAL CORPS PRAISED.
Gen. Greely says that tho signal
failed 10 receive from Maj. Gen. Shaft
er In his original report, even the no
tice that It participated IN the cam
paign
Gen. Greely's report indicates that
the credit for the location OF Admiral
Cervera's feet IN Santiago harbor be-
longs TO the signal corps and says
that In the interest OF history. let
alone justice 10 the signal corps OF the
army, the truth should be told The
location Of Cerveras squadron at San
tiago was the first made by Col James
Allen and later verified independently
by Lieut.. Col. Joseph f. Mexfield. both
officers OF the signal corps. The block
aiding after Cervera's squadron was
due 10 the conservative action OF the
president and secretary OF the navy.