The Washington times., 1901-10-27
FIELD TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
Elaborate Portable Exc haages
Used by the Army.

How the Kits Work-Some Details of
sages Sent and Received Daily.
The Wire Follows the Flag
The use of electricity in warfare has.
in the last few years. brought out a
large number of inventions, and many
feats which were useless to attempt a
few years ago have been made simple.
Two wars, the Boer-English and the
Spanish-American have given excellent
opportunity for testing the real merits OF
many inventions. and in the three years
campaign in the Philippines much has
been gained from observation OF the
workings OF electricity in modern war
fare. While the use of the electric cur
rent for firing and sighting Iargs guns,
and the operation of searchiights for sig
mailing and illumination. are mentioned.
1t Is said that transmitting information
by means Of the telegraph and telephone
has been the most general and valuable
application OF electricity. The extent OK
the business now handled for the United
states military telegraph system In the
Philippines is realized by comparatively
few people. the figures for the month OF
October, 1900, being as follows: Manila
Luzon system. sent and received 2s0. 735l
The messages frequently were over 100
words. and ranged in Importance from
orders from the commanding general to
social invitations. All stores are ordered
by telegraph, and the chief function of
the mail is to carry certain printed forms
and signatures required by the service,
long after the real business has been
transacted by wire
typical system of field connections
was the one used with the army operat-
ing against Manila in 1898. A flag sta
ton was established on the dock at Cav
lite Tor communication with the vessels
In the harbor. In building adjacent a
Telegraph station was installed with a
t"entS-mile line around the bay No.
II galvanized iron wire was used strung
on trees, lances. and old poles. Connect
ing with these permanent lines were two
insulated No. IA copper wires running to
within half mile of the trenches. and
then run separately to the extreme tanks
of the trenches. The wires were carried
on high bamboo poles at the start. but
as they approached the trenches they
were run on the ground. where they were
less exposed to shell fire In addition to
this. at~the stations on the tanks batter
les were placed in the line in case lines
were shot away. so that the stations
along the intrenchments could always be
in communication. When the troops ad-
Vanced from the trenches the line was
detached from the left flank and carried
on UP the shore of the bay and into Ma
nila
For the stations on the line box re-
lays were used. which, although difficult
10 near under fire. were convenient on
account of their compactness. Under IA
Yoraoie conditions the line worked satis-
but when the rain came there
was trouble. chiefly through the breaking
down OF the wires on poles by weight of
tohage falling against them The broad
leaves OF the palms enveloped the wire
with their wet surfaces and sapped from
II the feeble current that was trying to
carry the messages to direct the move
merits of thousands of troops and the sun
ply OF their rations and ammunition. The
theoretical resistance of the line per mile
could be easily determined, but whea the
theoretical amount of battery to work the
line properly was applied il was found
wanting, and all theory gave way to the
demands of practical necessity. and the
number of cells required was determined
by experiment. Linemen patroled the
lines day and night to improve the ins1-
lation. but in the limited time 1t was i'm
l'e'szitl,iie 10 put the line in safe condition.
AT times the leakage became so great
that no business could be handled by
means of the Morse Instruments. These
results occurred, of course, on the bare
wire, as the insulated wire was taped at
the joints. and. for the time being, i'm
pervious to climatic conditions.
a remarkable qN1r1pie of fba
of the field-kit service is stated cav
airy expedition was made for a distance
Of fifteen miles, and signal officer was
given orders to keep the column in tele-
graphic communication with Manila The
only wire to be had. a No. bare-iron
wire, weighing $50 pounds to the mile. was
laid along the trail, keeping UP all the
time with the troops. No attempt was
made toward insulation, except to see
that the wires were placed along the edge
OF the trail, where the ground was bare
of grass. and to hang IL on the fences
where 1t ran through villages. FieId-kits
were installed at the terminals for more
than ten days, during which time the line
was used. not a single message was de-
layed. This success was due to the fact
that II was operated in the dry season,
for in the early morning when the entire
iiue was wet with heavy dew. the sig
GaiS could be read very fafntly and dur
srg ire one Shower that fell they were
drowned out entirely, but were restored
s)ti aIter by tLe sun rapidly dying the
s-ILnd. Since that time moving columns
have sometimes been followed by a No
~ bare copper wire, put up on insuiators
" hen time permitted but for the most
part hung on the bushes which line sides
of the roads and trails. This method has
been used where the distance was too
great, and the transportation too limited
to permit carrying the heavy insulated
wire The copper wire was wound ON
rsa.als-
three pounds per 1909 feet but had the
of being easily broken
1t is declared by the authorities that
With one or two exceptions. where COM
were not requested. no mill
airy expeditions have been undertaken
n the Philippines without being accom-
,anied by the field telegraph line, and
he captured territory occupied Simulta-
leously by the troops. and the establish
nent of a telegraph office ready to report
he success of the expedition. its casual
les. and to requisitien for needed sup
lies. The men who have undertaken this
york have had to traverse. in working
Iack and forth. two OF three times the
distance covered by the troops of the line
4 the army. at the same time working
s hard as men can under a tropical sun.
o keep up with the advancing column.
When iiiEht came. and the troops went
nto camp for well-earned rest. the
men who had Iabored through the day
would each take his turn at the instru-
nent clearing the business of the preyi-
us day-Electrical Review.
CURIoS WITH A PAST.