Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-21
GENERAL GREELY TELLS OF WORK
OF SIGNAL CORPS.
DANGEROUS DUT WELL DONE
SIGNAL MEN At THE FRONT IN
EVERY CAMPAIGN.
Work Where Bullets Fly and Disease
Rages, the Same Men I'm the
Fighting Line-SignaI Corps
TO BE MUSTER
ed Out.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 2O.-The disintegra-
ton of the volunteer signal corps was be-
gun to-day, when orders were issued for
the relief from active duty of the Four
teenth company, with view TO its fur
Tough and muster out. General Greely, in
issuing this order, takes advantage of the
opportunity TO issue an address to his
men, of whose record in the war he has
just reasons to be proud. He says that,
while detained himself by mutitudinous du-
ties from participating at the front, he cam
not permit his men to return to private life
without acknowledging their loyal. eff
cient and valuable services to the ma
ton"
In reciting these services rendered by the
corps, General Greely says:
I'm the Santiago campaign you were the
first OF the army to arrive, as you were
the last to leave. Destroying within range
of Spanish guns the submarine cables that
gave the enemy daily information of in
estimable value; when the occupation of
Santiago was ordered, you repaired cables
with such celerity that you opened COM
munication between the United States ma
rine camp at Caimanera (Guantanam0 and
New York city on June q, the day prior
10 the landing of the Fifth army corps OF
Santiago. Battles may be fought and epi-
denies spread, but speedy. communication
ing to your efforts, the American army in
Cuba has not been isolated geographically
single day.
I'm the Cuban campaign you arranged,
maintained, and operated system of cable
and land lines, partly commercial, partly
war cables, partly flying telegraph lines,
and partly telephone lines, that enabled
messages to pass in twenty minutes from
the executive mansion in Washington 10
the headquarters of the army before Sant-
ago, and which offered direct and immedi-
ate communication between the secretary
of war in his office and the signal corps
men In the advanced rife pit on the right
the left, and In the center of our in
trenched army, within 400 yards of the en-
emy When the city fell, your lines fol-
lowed Immediately army headquarters as
1t moved therein.
No one will ever know the difficulties
physical or moral, climatic and service
under which you labored in Cuba Heat and
thirst hunger and fatigue-these present
sufferings with impending disease and
death-you endured and faced uncomplain-
tngly with the rest of the army, but these
conditions never prevented the prompt,
cheerful, and efficient discharge Of the i'm
portant duties devolving unremittingly day
and night on the signal corps.
I'm Porto Rico you were ever with the
advance, participating as scouts and skirm-
ishers in the capture and occupation OF
towns. From the beginning 10 the end of
the campaign, YOU kept each important
command in telegraphic or telephonic con-
nection both with the corps commanders
and also with the base OF operations.
I'm the Philippines you were always to
the 'front.' and throughout the siege OPP
erations constructed and maintained tel
egraph and telephone lines In the advanced
trenches at Manila, remained with the rest
Of the army under fire daily under condi-
tons so dangerous that five officers were
breveted and several men recommended for
medals of honor.
The connections by cable of the prin-
cipal forts in our great harbors and the
initiation and installment of an entirely
new electrical fire control system were also
your labors.
while your service everywhere has been
of the highest character, you have espe-
eially illustrated that development of char
acter necessary to expert work by your de-
votion as officers and your obedience as
men under the trying and monotonous con-
oitions of camp and garrison life, where
the soldier and officer are fashioned day
by day for the supreme moment of battle.
The lessons there learned have served you
well.
''The signal corps has filled neither the
guard house nor the hospitals. Serving in
the field in Cuba, in the Philippines, and In
Porto Rico, and in home garrisons al
Tampa, Chickamauga, Camp Alger, Jack
eonville and Montauk yet your total aggre-
gate of over 1900 has lost by disease In
camp and field. to dates only five, officers
and men included.
las our roads part and the greater num-
her of the signal corps go back to the
paths of civil life, the chief signal officer
of the army gives you all godspeed. hop
ing that the hardships of war. while max
ing you advocates of all peace that is no;
shameless and unpatriotic, will ever make
you mindful of the value and welfare OF
the regular signal corps. OF which you have
been so great part in the war, to the
glory of the American army"