The times., 1898-05-09
The wigwaggers of the service.


CFromi the Albany Journal.D
It is a fact that the wigwaggers are
non-combatants. but are none the less
very valuable in war and individually
of more service than the individual in
fantry soldier who can only handle
rife; while the wigwagger is skilled in
firearms, saber work and some branches
of engineers work. besides being able TO
communicate between different COM
mands. Several of the local corps are
expert telegraphers and all are more or
less proficient with the flags and hello
graphs. Telegraphers would be of little
use in the Signal Corps if they were un-
able to use the flags, photographs and
other appliances for communicating sig
nails and messages. From the time the
corps was first organized, five years ago
last February, much attention has been
given TO the signal work. and the corps
ranks Al in the militia of the entire
country, and as a whole is a proficient
as the majority of the signalers of the
Regular Army.
The utility of the signal corps in the
present war is not to be questioned for a
moment. 1t has been stated that Cuba
will be invaded by land force which
will cooperate with the naval force in
the harbor for the capture of Havana.
1t Is absolutely necessary that the COM
mander of the land forces be able to
communicate with the warshiDs in the
harbor and that can only be done by use
of the men of the signal coprs In olden
times signals We're arranged beforehand.
There was no system and consequently
little satisfaction from signaling, as it
could heardIy be called intelligent IN
der the present system, signals between
land forces and naval forces may be ex-
changed without any preparation and
any sort of message sent, serious or triv-
ial. The Naval Reserve has been par
ticularly drilled 10 work in connection
with maneuvers of land troops and every
member of the reserve is signaIman.
The same code is in use In every depart
ment of the Army -an5 Navy.
1t has been suggested that the signal
corps of the National Guard be used to
man the Atlantic coast from Florida to
Maine. While many of the men stationed
along the coast would bee no active ser
vice. undoubtedly the ma jority would be
of inestimable value in giving notice of
the approach of hostile fleet of move
ments of the enemy's vessels. besides
keeping the authorities posted on the
movements of our own vessels.
There are comparatively few signal
corps in the country and signalmen are
therefore valuable.
The great hitch seems to be that the
members of the National Guard dislike
the idea of being separated from their
officers. That is but natural brit it
must not be supposed that such a
reason would suffice to keep any one
man of the Guard at home or from doing
his duty as an American citizen. There
were many speeches made in the meeting
of the Signal Corps last night, not all in
favor of active participation. but there
was no dissenting voice to the PROPOSE
ton to respond Immediately as a body
upon the first call for volunteers. There
is a little healthy rivalry between the
officers of the Regular Army and the
officers of the National Guard. The Off
GERS of the former certainly have some
advantage in being. graduates from West
Point, but they have not had as rule
the interest in the organization with
which they are connected which has
characterized the relations of the officer,
of the State Guard to the men under
their command. No one denies that the
National Guard is as well drilled and in
many cases, better drilled than the Fed
era troops and the main difference lies
in the fact that one organization is ac-
customed to garrison life and constant
military supervision, while the citizen
soldiery is used to but title of that sort
of. thing. AS for shooting and camp
life. the National Guard is not inferior