New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-26

tO-dHy
r-osented 10 Secretary Alger his report 81 the
onerations Of the Signal Corps In the with
sraln IN the first section Of his report General
Greedy devotes particular attention TO the organi-
zatlon Of the Signal Corps for the Referring
70 the SANTIAGO campaign he says:
rspeclal interest for the Signal Corps attaches to
mis- sege since. is stated elsewhere. the Chief
signal Oficer OF the Army was responsible for the
The turning point OF the
General Greedy then discusses the arrangement
and installation OF electrical and other appliances
whereby the War Department. 10 all intents and
,r-Doses was brought near 70 the Army and
ouck communication established between the COM
handing general and his general officers Of the
Fifth Army Corps. He intimates that the officers
IN Cuba were Handicapped because they were not
allowed 10 take with them the Signal Corps tele-
graph train. which had been sent TO Tampa for the
Santiago expedition. and adds:
The lack Of thoroughly trained men was not the
the signal work. Seeing that visual SIGNALLING
which The commanding general OF the Firm Army
was practically Impossible for land operations and
only useful between the coast stations and the
Zee, it is impossible TO surmise what would have
Insulated wire. telegraphic and telephone nstru-
-,ched 10 Lieutenant Colonel Green.
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE.
General Greedy discusses at length the physical
difficulties Of maintaining communication by wire
IN Cuba In the Santiago campaign, but points out
that at all critical periods OF the campaign GeheraI
shafter was kept IN direct communication by tele-
rhone with HIS subordinate commanders, the lines
being unnterruptedly maintained under an almost
constant fire from the enemy. Special stress is iaio
on the value OF the Signal Corps facilities In direct
ing the FIRE Of the naval vessels. The arrange
rnents were so complete and excellent thh' 'he
rnaior-general commanding able 20 communl-
cate directly with the admiral commanding the
feet and in addition TO communicate with the war
Department within twenty minutes IeIeiaI
Greedy then says:
concerning this telegraphio and telephone ser
,nafor1cenerai commanding the FIFTH Army CORPS.
era for c S'H D, ne the ATmy ne feels It ncumben upon
fn 10 point on. its absolute military necessity ana
nth any general commanding detached army.
especially one serving on r%.esm ,,S tsIeSrapblc
when he leaves himself unpf0V'oe' VIII"
General Greedy is confident that In the single
month Of July the lines OF communication man
ta.ned by his corps in Cuba were worth more u
he Nation than the cos. OF the Signal Corps from
90 ,pcept,on 70 the present day. He refers 10 the
assa with which the maior-general commanding
,bo army communicated with Washington, giving
,rnortant information and receiving important or
ders He then adds:
IN aoan,o quo ,ae, he fate Of the fever-sricken
army in sanaso de- Spo 5v ma mail ins'tad Of by
electrical communication
Use or THE WAR BALLOON.
co,o,o, creelv strongly commends the use OF
.,n vsr balloon. and declares that Sc utility was
tborouehly demonstrated. Concerning the cr'uc's'''
made Of the balloon operations at Santiago ne says
The forcing Of ,he Signal Corps balloon TO- the he
skrmsh IN sarioIs loss 70 the troops by disclos-
Inc their movements ana attracHns re'1 SbaTier
5 Tg ESS his chief engineer Colonel George NC
Derby in the face Of the professionel e1e''e Tted
s...Hs VoIunteer Signal Corps. who Is chargea
with the practical operation or ne 5enger 20
who besides sharing absolutely ens'E T., 7aSSit,on
which Colonel Derby was subjected, N racon
had MS horse shot under MN il q previous
noiesance Of the ground
C..-,l ,;re4lv saws that the Signal Corps failed
-o,eiye rom Major-General shafter IN his
o-,ri-aI reQort even notice that II par'lciP"' ~
the Santiago campaign. - :,
An interesting part OF General GreeIys report =
.bo. which relates 20 the telegraph Censorship -"
this feature he says:
IhST b3i ne ssna CoPrs exercised press cen.
sorshp during he Val az Gf,,cer 'snoTed ali
u,,-s.ioTs looking to an Interference with the iree
and ,Ionai and unpa,riotic oc journals
n may be added that The Associate -. az
OF ,s rely and frequently Only hei5
Willingness but also 'heiI geS ,lon tbst would en-
farrass the Administration or be o4sare
W. y1re not PickwcNan for in more than one in, n,
s..Dca Information Of the highest lnteresl 70 tne
guHC mas NV press associations newspaper cor
resnonden,s and editors as calculated. il gwen pun
ncity. to iniure the National cause
LOCATION or CERvERAs FLEET.
cor.r,, G-ee,v's report indicates that the
cro1i, for the location OF Admiral Cerveras Meet
IN Santiago Harbor belongs TO the Signai corps
- re interest of history. let alone ipstice to the
signal corps Of the Army. the ruth sn 3 os
s1ia. l"r as frst made nv Colone! James Alien.
ana atcr verified i4degen9dcnh,E, S7drs Of he
son ~r~e The hlockadnc OF Cervera's squadron
vas G ae w ~ he Navy based reports and
ra-.,'-e.entations made personally 70 them oY ne
Ch'' sish e .,.ISt,on IN an Official dispatch says:
"3r military and naval mote,h.hIS ca 20
that point (the presence OF Ger ''' -
on May 70 Admiral cervera entered the a hsT 5sI
~ ,.a-'fi. 60 with his squadron. Ihat vefE GA !,
CoioHe' zen. Snen w. Soanish vessels arrived a.
s.'~' a. cuba Have notified Admiral com,
u ni.I- LIZ THO Admiral CCcrvera) hastily
80 ~ ana on the following morning ne aided
~. lo'l"%!te 20 destrover or torpedo boats ar
ers IN Slrl rh,. information was Communicate ted
;-onocdiatcIv 20 the President. and by MS orders T.
,he Secretary OF we the 1C6ef signal ofrer the
A-r,,. ne 70 the entire relabh'y or tnlS Ie}, ~,
Proc H''S u.s., s!ch prornp, ard effective orders as
r.-lltnl IL the blockade of SaptlaFo a'" TIE UNI
rrato destruction OF Cerrera meet
Tho report says that O"'o"9. 49, - 60
ct,..r adyices OF the most valuable SOFT from san
80 almost daily lie first reported that me
snarjsh squadron was short Of coal ana couid no
rfrew IS supply at san'iago. AID also that me
uua--oored American cruisers OF the cuban coas
Eyer. mistaken by the Spanish for me man
American fleet " proving. says General GreeF' vi
,gt.5or, and efficiency Of Admiral Simpsons order
-. -. ,bo cast unarmored cruisers % ~
~ should perform scouting duty off Santiago
TIE report then adds:
ct,,re- MESSAGE Of the pa stated correctly wa
Admiral schley was that DAY, AZ o ,y tbe Nav,
~ hen unable 10 verify the fact or Cerrt :p.
ryasonce al Santiago and as result nc 'Vs -