The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-23

MANILA. March 15.-The Signal Corps Of
our army in the Philippines, Colonel Alien
at present commanding, have in operation
today .55l miles Of wire on Luzou and the
Visayan Islands. they have established 10O
telegraph Offices, and with a total muster
If 221 men and twenty-one officers this de-
nartment handles l35 .OO0 messages
month the messages containing twenty TO
a thousand words each. Every officer on
the system receives daily at Il a. m. the
pfHeiaI time from Manila.
This 1.551 miles of wire was first laid in
the wake OF our advancing soldiers thus
keeping our firing line in communication
with CORPS headquarters in Manila; then
when time permitted. the light copper wire
used for quick running during marches
and lighting was replaced by an iron wire
on temporary poles. and eventually thls
second wire was replaced by heavy iron
wire. well strung on strong poles. Thus the
I 551 miles OF wire has actually been laia
three times: the third and last time they
Uere erected In their present substantial
manner Our army. on July 81 OF last
vear had only l2g miles Of wire In opera
zion and during the months oi AususC
september. October, and November, o-N
more miles we're added to this original ~
during December. 1899 the Signal corps
60 mn 415 miles Of wire. during January
1900 sO2 miles and during February, go
miles these figures giving the total as
tauce in operation today. The central OIL
fee of this entire system is. OF COURSE
in Manila: here eight trunk lines converge,
and prenarations are making 10 receive
four more trunk lines this month
PeriIs Of Lonely Parties.
These are bare and dry facts, and their
consideration will lead to the conclusion
that the s51 men Of the Signal Corps have
done and are doing a good deal Of worn
out here. Add TO this that the first field
wires are laid right along with the al
vance Of our troops into hostile country
that sometimes the Signal Corps men se
ahead of or separated from the column ah'
must shift for themselves unprotected
that the second and third lines are oItei
built through country abandoned by oul
troops and overrun with rowing bands
insurgents and cutthroats; that the enehl
are continually cutting the lines, carrying
which must be Immediately replaced; tina
In doing this repair work the Signal Corps
must of necessity operate in small parties
and the enemy are always lying in wal
Cor small attachments Of American troop
IN order TO wipe them out; add, turther'
more. that the country through Whlci
these lines run Is most difficult Tor th'
construction and maintenance Of telegraph
wires. and some appreciation Of the Worl
done may be had. II can be called hazard
Gus. to say the least.
When General Grant advanced from An
geles into Zamhales province last Deem
her Lieut. W. II. Stamford and ten men 0
the Signal Corps accompanied his eXpedl
tiou. running their field wire and keep
ing the column in communication with u
base. At a point half way between Flor
ida Blanca and Dunilupihan, distanc
az eleven miles. Lieutenant Stanford
supply Of wire gave out. and he and ~
ten men camped alone with the end
their line to await a further supply, wnil
the column pushed on into DunilupihaI
An instrument was attached TO the ln'
and Angeles promised more wire earl
the next morning. That afternoon Lieu
tenant Stamford's men did a little scout
ing through the neighboring country, an
discovered $50 insurrectos camped les
than a mile away. They had RENAME
carefully hidden while General Grant
column was passing, but later shove
an unfortunate tendency TO wand'
through the country. Lieutenant sian
eamp they could kill his entire party b.
ford realized that if they discovered b
fore help could get to him. Then be W..
glad that be had taken the pains TO bid
his field wire as well as possible as
went along and there was just so mul
n.an HmnsHH ~
ing il and following Il UP until he can
to the signal men. Lieutenant Stamfol
and his ten men removed to the shelter
a bamboo grove, carrying their instrun FL
and line with them. and prepared 10 pa
a vigilant night The Americans took al
vantage Of such natural defences as q
bamboos afforded: the lieutenant plac
his sentries with studied care. and q
whole party we're glad when the short ~
light thiekened into night. All night lol
they watched and waited, and nothi
happened: they dared not light fires. 81
had to eat travel rations cold. Tn
uueried Angeles as to when they cou
expect the new wire and re-enf- rceme-
and Angeles answered. early this NOR
ing" No one slept that night. Mofni
came and the day grew hotter, while in
shade of the bambOos the ten signal me
hungry, tired. and still on the ale
awaited an attack, for they had seen q
enemy coming in their direction. T
strain was intense: at II O'Clock the
strumeut between Lieutenant Stanton,
knees began to tick. The expectant IT
read the sounds; it was the official tin
from Manila.
Not having caught sight Of Lieutena
Stamford's party, the enemy did not Z
tack him: at ! O'Clock the re-cnforC
ments and wire from Angeles arrived, a
two hours later Lieutenant Stamford a
his detail were In Dunilupihan and &c
eral Grant was in communication "
Manila.
stopped Work 10 Fight.
Upon another occasion Lieutenant Sta
ford and his ten men had been some five
six miles ahead OF the main column all
morning: they stopped TO rest just oil
side Of Florida Blanca. Here they W
Joined by Captain Rumbold Of the Thir
second Infantry. and a detail Of men Ru
bold asked FOR news OF the enemy; Sta
ford told him he had not seen them. Ru
bold passed on ahead. looking for the
and Stamfords men returned 10 III
work which happened TO be in an OF
field. Suddenly the enemy opened
S;amford's party. the bullets combing
grass beside them The signal men wi
on with their work but when they he'
Captain Rumbold's detail firing not m
than 500 yards away. the temptation 70
fight was toe strong and they got p
mission to drop their tools and assist N
companions. They deployed and took
active part in the engagement which
suited IT, the killing, among six others.
an insurgent captain who wore the sW
and pistol OF Ensign Wood, killed so
weeks previously when the rebels surprI