The times., 1899-11-06

OF the work of the Signal Corps in the
Philippines the following mention is made:
The operations of the Signal Corps have
been coincident with every military move
ment in every part of the Philippine archi
pelago. They were associated with the
repairing of the English cable at Cavite
and the restoration and extension of the
Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's
cable 10 and around the Visayan Islands.
They laid a cable to Cayite, which for many
months was the only means Of communica-
tiou between Manila and that point, and
also connected by heliogTaph or flag the
hospital at Corregidor with the headquar-
tiers of the army. Every regiment was
connected by telephone or telegraph with
its brigade and thence with division and
corps headquarters. Whenever any party
took the field il was accompanied by Sig
nal Corps detachment and no general officer
is command Of an expedition pitched his
tent without a telegraph or telephone office
in operation by his side The corps con-
sisted OF three companies, loo men in ali,
and 20 officers One man has died of dis
ease and one officer, Captain Tilly, was
killed.
War Balloon Service.
Though no preparations had been made
for a war balloon service at the outbreak
of the war, still balloon equipment was
secured under many difficulties, and five
ascensions made at Santiago. Congress will
be asked for an appropriation to perfect
this branch Of the service.
The Signal Corps post established at Fort
Myer. Va. is doing excellent work. All
appropriation Will be asked that school Of
instruction may be properly conducted
there With an army of -, 600 men, the fol
lowing Signal Corps force will be needed:
The Signal Corps of the Army now con
sists of II regular officers and 81 VOlun-
teers. or - in all an inadequate number
for present war conditions. In time OF
peace however. the number could possibly
be reduced to 80, which should consist of
a brigader general and Chief Signal Officers
OF the Army, aud the following signal Ottl-
GERS: Two colonels, , lieutenant colonies,
4 majors, L captains, and y first lieu
tenants.
by direction Of the President and in
accordance with the act OF Congress of
March 2. 1899. the enlisted force, by Gen
eral Orders. No. 81 Adjutant General S
Office, March l9 1899 consists Of 100 first
class sergeants, 200 sergeants, 90 corpOrals
| 300 first class privates, 80 second class
privates and 20 cooks, or 100 in all.
II Is IttDlLultlltl lHdl tEIalalAOA4 NC
had. if necessary, confirming this force,
with the proviso that the President may in
his discretion, reduce the number OF the
| corps to 800 of such grades as he may
deem proper The enlisted force now con-
ststs of about 500 men, which is being re-
cruited as rapidly as possible to the au-
thorized limit of 100"
Experiments have been made with Wire
less telegraphy under many difficulties, but
the corps succeeded in operating its own
system successfully between Fire Island
and Fire Island Hghtship, a distance OF
twelve miles, and experiments will be con-
tinued
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 30 1901" says the report necessarily
submitted in advance OF this report, We're
placed at $4,000 and at that time the
Chief Signal officer Of the Army had no
information as to the condition Of affairs
in the Philippines since April last Re
ports at hand indicate the absolute reces-
sity Of providing for suitable military COM
municatioH for maintaining peace ana order
in the southern islands, so that it will be
! imperatvely necessary to increase this
| sum TO $97 500, which IS the smallest pos
sible amount under present prospective
conditions that will suffice for the neces-
sary work of the Signal Corps