The evening times., 1898-08-31
ALWAYS ALERT IN BATTLE
Work Performed by Men OF
the Signal Service.
SIDE BY SIDE WITH HEROES
A Valuable Adjunct to the Army.
Dangers Met D.! Brave WiE-WaE-
gers on the Bloody Field in Front
of Santingo-Composit of the
Corps.

Glowing reports are being received by
Gen Greedy of the work of the Signal
Corps in Cuba. Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines This branch of the army has de-
monstrated its Importance and useful
ness during the war with Spain and since
the cessation of hostilities. and 1t Is be-
lieved Congress will make provisions for
the permanent increase of the organiza-
ton.
The balloon and telephone work and
flag signaling in front of Santiago will
form an interesting chapter of the war
and the fact has been established that
the duties of a signal man during the
prevalence of a battle or seige is by no
means an easy or safe task Nineteen
brave signal men who carried the tele
phones up TO the firing line or tagged
messages from advanced and exposed po-
sitions. lost their lives in front of SANTA
go, and the narrow escapes from death or
wounds were many. A man waving
message with a bright red or white flag.
four feet square. forms a pretty good tar
get for a sharpshooter or picket while
balloonist, high in the air forms a mark
for volley firing rapid-fire guns, and II
the ascensions in Cuba had q hair-raising
is needless to say the men who made
experience.
In fac. all the work Of the service Is
is in the air ard shells and o:her mis-
siles of destruction are flying about re-
gardless of persons or property.
The men of the Signal Corps too. en-
joyed the novelty Of being shot at with
out having an opportunity of shooting
back. The only arms they carried were
Cole 45-caliber revolvers. which are
only effective at short range. and ii Is
well known that the Spaniards at no
time sought close quarters with the
American soldiers. Many Of the signal
men were picked off by sharpshooters in
tree tops or rifle pits while they were
stretching insulated wire and carrying
service telephones up to the line of bat
tie. or sending flag messages to the rear
or wings. They were really non-com-
batants but had to be in the thick of the
fray and take their chances with the
infantrymen, cava,rymen or artillerists
on the firing line
Many interesting incidents could be re-
lated Of the men of the crossed flags and
torch during the hot times at Santiago.
The Signal Corps is necessarily COM
posed of a superior class of men. There
are electricians; telegraphers to operate
the military lines; iinemen. cable opera
t0rs. expert senders with the ileliograph.
or sun telegraph. and flags and aero
nauts. The work Is hard but interesting.
ard many professional men were at
tracted to the service in consequence. In
one company connected with the Sew
er,.h Army Corps Gen. Lees at jack
sorville, there was physician, lawyer,
newspaper man. draugIhtsman, scientist.
electricians and numerous telegraph
operators.
Gen Greely has received report from
Porto Rico on the work being done there
by the little army of Signal Corps men
on the island. There are 300 of these vol
unteers now there and they will be re-
ouired to assume control of and operate
the entire Porto Rican telegraph system.
Spaniards are now operating these lines.
but when this country takes final posses
sion of the island the Signal Corps will
have to take charge until the final status
of the system is determined.
Col. Allen has been in command OF the
Porto Rican Signal Corps. but as he sail
ed from Ponce for home yesterday owing
to i'll health, Lieut.. Col. Glassford, was
left in charge of the 800 men.
The Signal Corps at Santiago is also do
ing signal work in more senses than one.
The steamship Seguranca. which reached
Santiago Monday, had on board Capt.
Leigh and a company of forty men, who
will relieve Col. Greene. These signal
men will begin work at once repairing
the military telegraph and telephone lines
along the coast of Eastern Cuba, besides
constructing new lines and then operating
them.
The Signal Battalion at Jacksonville,
Fla, comprises three companies under
the command of Col Maxfield of balloon
ascension fame. 1t Is proposed to send
this battalion to Cuba with Gen. Lees
army Of occupation. and the men will be
required to overhaul the cuban telegraph