The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-23
THE SIGNAL CORPS WORK
Fifteen Hup ed Miles of Wire in
the ? lippine Islands.
TIL Lines Laid Three Timcs-Dan-
ers Threatening the Isolated
binemen and RcPairers-ObIiEed
10 Fight ns Well as Work
with General Grants Column.

MANILA, March 15.-The Signal Corps o.
our army in the Philippines, Colonel AlleT
at present commanding, have in operation
today 1851 miles of wire on Luzon and the
Visayan Islands: they have esta eiished l6t
telegraph Offices, and with total muster
of 3Sl men and twenty-one officers this de-
partment handles 135, 000 messages a
month. the messages containing twenty tc
a thousand words each. Every officer or
the system receives daily at IL a. IN. the
official time from Manila.
This 1851 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 fighting was replaced by an iron wire
on temporary poles. and eventually this
second wire was replaced by heavy iron
wire, well strung on strong poles. Thus the
1851 miles Of wire has actually been laid
three times; the third and last time they
were erected in their present substantial
manner Our army. on July 81 OF last
year, had only 129 miles of wire In opera
tion, and during the months OF August,
September, October, and November, S2O
more miles were added to this original l29;
during December, 1899, the Signal Corps
set up AIS miles of wire; during January,
1900 402 miles, and during February, 2So
miles, these figures giving the total dis
lance in operation today. The central Of
fee of this entire system is, Of course,
in Manila; here eight trunk lines converge,
and preparations are making to 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 351 men of the Signal Corps have
done and are doing good deal of work
out here. Add to this that the first field
wires are laid right along with the ad-
vance of our troops into hostile country;
that sometimes the Signal Corps men get
ahead of or separated from the column and
must shift for themselves unprotected;
that the second and third lines are often
built through country abandoned by our
troops and overrun with rowing bands of
insurgents and cutthroats; that the enemy
are continually cutting the lines, carrying
away bodily lengths of half a mile or more,
which must be Immediately replaced; that
in doing this repair work the Signal Corps
must of necessity operate in small parties
and the enemy are always lying in wait
for small detachments of American troops
in order to wipe them out; add, further
more, that the country through which
these lines run is most difficult for the
construction and maintenance of telegraph
wires, and some appreciation of the work
done may be had. 1t can be called hazard
GUS to say the least.
When General Grant advanced from An
geles into Zambales province last Deem
Der Lieut.. W. H. Stamford and ten men of
the Signal Corps accompanied his expedi-
ton, running their field wire and keep
ing the column in communication with its
base. At a point half way between Flor
ida Blanca and Dunilupihan, a distance
OF eleven miles, Lieutenant Stamford's
supply of wire gave out, and he and his
ten men camped alone with the end OF
their line to await further supply, while
the column pushed on into Dunilupihan.
An instrument was attached to the line,
and Angeles promised more wire early
the next morning. That afternoon Lieu
tenant Stamfords men did a little scout
ing through the neighboring country, ard
discovered $50 insurrectos camped less
than a mile away. They had remained
carefully hidden while General Grants
column was passing. but later showed
an unfortunate tendency to wander
through the country. Lieutenant SIAM
camp they could kill his entire party be-
ford realized that il they discovered his
fore help could get to him. Then he was
glad that he had taken the pains TO hide
his field wire as well as possible as he
went along, and there was just so much
less chance of wandering rebel discover
ing it and following IT up until he came
to the signal men. Lieutenant Stamford |
and his ten men removed to the shelter of |
a bamboo grove, carrying their instrum ent
and line with them. and prepared to pass
a vigilant night The Americans took adj |
vantage of such natural defences as the |
bamboos afforded; the lieutenant placed |
his sentries with studied care and the |
whole party were glad when the short twi- |
light thicl5ened into night. ALI night long
they watched and waited, and nothing
happened; they dared not light fires, and
had to eat travel rations cold They
gueried Angeles as to when they could
expect the new wire and re-enforcements
and Angeles answered early this morn |
ing" No one slept that night Morning
came and the day grew hotter, while in The
shade of the bamboos the ten signal men,
hungry, tired, and still on the alert, !
awaited an attack, for they had seen the |
enemy coming in their direction. The |
eticAn was iultHst, dl II o CLOCK the In |
strument between Lieutenant Stamford's |
knees began to tick. The expectant men |
read the sounds; it was the official tine |
from Manila.
Not having caught sight OF Lieutenant |
Stamford's party, the enemy did not at |
tack him; at ! O'Clock the reinforce |
ments and wire from Angeles arrived. and |
two hours later Lieutenant Stamford and |
his detail were in Dunilupihan and Cen |
eral Grant was in communication with |
stopped Work 10 Fight
Upon another occasion Lieutenant STAN |
ford and his ten men had been some five or |
six miles ahead OF the main column all the |
they stopped to rest just out |
side of Florida Blanca. Here they were |
Joined by Captain Rumbold Of the Thirty |
second Infantry, and detail Of men. Rum
bold asked for news OF the enemy; STAN
ford told him he had not seen them Rum
bold passed on ahead, looking for them |
and Stamford's men returned TO their |
work, which happened to be in an open
held. Suddenly the enemy opened on |
party the bullets combing the
grass beside them. The signal men went
on with their work, but when they heard
Captain Rumbold's detail firing not more
than 500 yards away, the temptation for a
hight was too strong. and they got per-
mission TO drop their tools and assist their
companions. They deployed and took an |
active part In the engagement, which re-
suited In the killing, among six others. of
In insurgent captain who wore the sword !
and pistol of Ensign Wood, killed some
UW..Ef a.... II.