The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-19

The progress map Of Signal Corps tele-
graph lines and cables In the Philippines.
prepared under the direction Of Gen A. w.
Greedy. and issued today, is OF special in
terest at this time. 1t sho7!s not only the
system a. 1t existed on March 81 but also
projected military telegraph lines and ca
bIes now in process OF construction.
Telegraphic communication between Ma
Mia and the south has been entirely de-
pendent upon the English cable to the
Vlsayan Islands of Panay. Negros. and Ce-
bu This cable. which was broken by an
earthquake on April II. has not yet been
repaired. and the long interruption en-
phasizes the great military Importance OF
an alternate telegraphic route to the
sov,hern Islands from Msnila. which is
now being constructed by the Signal Corps.
The system recommended by General Mac
Arthur has en- fully approved by Secreta-
~ Roo. and viii be pushed to rapid com
pletion A, signaI cable has already been
laid fro Cebr 70 Leyte and is being eX-
tended eastward TO Samar and nOrJhward
10 Luzon viG the Island Of Masbate- The
military scheme is 70 have long stretches
of cable, supplemented by as short lald
lines - possible. so as 10 ensure the great
est possible freedom from hostile interfer-
euce with communications The military
telegraphic system to Cebu. via Samsr,
will. as soon as the English cable is re-
paired afford General Macarthur two
routes by which 10 reach garrisoned posts
in the Department OF the NiSayas- The eX-
tension southwark looks 10 the connection
by cables of the very important islands OF
] Cebu. Lcyte and Mindanao. The latter ISL
and viii be reached by a combined system
OF land lines and cables via cable from
/ Negros. and thus all garriaons on this great
/ island will be N speedy communication
/ Ultimately. it is expected that Mindan2O
! viii be connected by cable via ZamboanSu,
/ with JoIO and the latter with the TaUi
\ Taui group.
/ This Geographic system will be a most
I important factor in the pdcifcatiOn Of the
/ entire archipelago and being open 10 Dusi-
/ ness men, under proper regulations, will
| afford means Of communication never be-
/ fore enjoyed by these islands. The militia
/ ~ value Of the lines is exceedingly great.
/ as they make possible the placing and
/ handling OF troops 10 such advantage. ard
permit such instant action that local dis
l yurbances have no chance to attain seri-
: Gus proportions. A complete telegraph
/ system will be an important factor toward
/ a material reduction Of our forces without
/ eudangeriug our military supremacy.
| Il is expected that the entire Nisayc1
/ group will be connected by military lines
/ before July, and that the southern system
| OF cables and land lines will be in opera
! ton by the end of the rainy season The
| extent and magnitude of the telegraph and
cable ope1s ions Of the Signal Corps in the
1 Philippines are hardly realized or known.
There are leo frst-class telegraph Offices
! manned by nearly 200 skilled operators.
/ who handle by telegraph On the Island OF
| I-uZon alone about 800. 900 words each day.
: In addition, there are about $50 lOng-dis-
| lance telephone stations in operation in
| various parts Of the archipelago.
The work of the Signal Corps when
| cOmplet "a will stretch through nearly
| fourteen degrees Of latitude. Six Signal
Corps cI5les are now-in operation. and in
I all probability, the cables and the Iand
| lines which were nearly 1000 miles in
! length On March 81 aggregate az presen,
/ $500 miles. While some branches are for
| strictly military purposes, the most OF
! these lines are permanent structures,
! which will have very important bearing
/ in the development of the trade relations
1 of the various islands