Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-26
THE SIGNAL CORPS
And Its Great Services Dur
ing the Late War.
Even Though Ignored by Shafter Its
Deeds win Ever Live.
Located csrvsra and Did lnestimable Service
In Cuban Campaign.

Washington, Oct 25.-Brig. Gen. A s.
Greeley. chief signal officer. today,
presented to Secretary Alger his re-
port Of the operation Of the Signal
Corps during the recent war with Spain.
In the first section of his report Gen.
Greeley devotes particular attention
to the organization of the Signal Corps
for the war. Referring to the Santiago
campaign, he says: Especial inter-
est attaches to this siege since as is
stated elsewhere the chief signal officer
of the army was responsible for the
inception Of this campaign. which
proved to be the turning point of the
war;"
Gen. Greeley then discusses the ar
rangement and installation of electro
cal and other appliances whereby the
war department, to all intents and
purposes, were brought near to the army
and quick communication established
between the commander and the gener-
al officers in the 5th Army Corps. He
intimates that the corps officers in
Cuba were handicapped because
they were not allowed to take with them
eA1'+ NSAoAA0A wi Po tSiS6inPA ~ Gill "hiSh
had been sent to Tampa for the San
tiago expedition.
Gen. Greeley discusses at length the
physical difficulties of maintaining
communication by wire in Cuba dur
ing the Santiago campaign, but points
out that all critical periods of the cam
paign Gen. Shafter was kept in direct
communication by telephone with his
subordinate commanders the lines be-
ing 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 fire of the naval vessels.
Gen. Greeley then says: Concern
ing this Geographic and telephone ser
vice which did not fall within the plans
of the major general commanding the
9Th Army Corps, and for which he
made no provision. the chief signal Off
Ger of the army feel it incumbent on
him to point out it's absolute military
necessity and value and to indicate the
extraordinary risks which any general
commanding a detached army, especi-
ally one serving on foreign soil. as
sumes when he leaves himself unpro-
NluSu Will anu tclSpllOI1lC
facilities"
Gen. Greeley is confident that dur
ing the single month of July the line of
communication maintained by his
corps in Cuba was worth more to the
nation than has been the cost of the
Signal Corps of the army from it's in
ception to the present day. He refers
to the ease with which the major gen.
eral commanding the army communi-
Gated with Washington, giving impor-
tant orders. He then adds: "In adj
dition it is not pleasant to surmse
what might have been the fate of the
fever stricken army in Santiago de
Cuba had it's fortune and movements
been directed by mail instead of by
electrical communication"
Gen. Greeley strongly commends the
use of the war balloon and declares
| that it's utility was thoroughly dem
| onstrated. Concerning the criticism
made on the balloon operating at San
| tiago, he says: 1.-The forcing of the
| Signal Corps balloon to the skirmish
| line, where it's position is reported to
| have caused serious loss to the troops
| by disclosing their movements and at
| tracing the enemy's fire, was the ac-
| ton of Major General Shafter through
his chief engineer, Col. George Nice.
| Derby, in the face of the professional
advice given by Lieut. Col. Maxfield,
of the United States Volunteer Signal
Corps, who was charged with the prac-
teal operation of the balloon and who
besides sharing absolute danger to
which Col. Derby was subjected. in adj
dition had his horse shot under him
| in a previous reconnaissance Of the
| ground.
Gen. Greeley says that 1.-THE Signal
Corps failed to receive from Major
Gen. Shafter in his original report,
even a notice that it participated in the
Santiago campaign"
An interesting part of Gen. Greeley's
report is that which relates to the tel
egraphic censorship. On this feature
he says: There has been mfsappre-
hension on the part of many that the
Signal Corps exercised press censor
ship during the war, an opinion that is
entirely unfounded, as the chief sig
nal officer ignored all suggestions look
ing to an interference with the free and
untrammelled publication Of press mat
ter, even by the most sensational and
unpatriotic journals. 1t may be added
that The Associated Press and many
of the leading journals in a most pot
riotic spirit expressed freely and fire.
quently not only their willingness bu
also their desire to refrain from the
publication of any information thai
or be detrimental to the success of the
military operations.
Gen. Greeley refers in the highes
terms of praise to the officers ant
agents of the Western Union Telegraph
and Cable Co., the Mexican Co., tbs
United States and Hayti Gable Co., the
French Cable Co., the Direct Cable Co.
and the West Indies Submarine Tele
graph Co.. for SO generously meeting
the requirements of the censorship
which was deemed essential by the Off
GERS of this government.
Gen. Greeley's report indicates tina
the credit for the location of Admira
Ceryera's fleet in Santiago harbor be
longs to the Signal Corps, and say
! that lin the interest of history let alon'
justice. the Signal Sorps of the army
the truth should be told. The location