Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-04-23

structions in the most minute detail to
his diplomatic officers engaged in deal
ing with foreign powers. The whole
world is his checker-board.
The Office through which all these
things are done is officially known as the
telegraph and cipher bureau, but it is
popularity called the war room. 1t cd
joins the Presidents private office, and
he can step to it at any moment of the
day or night During the Spanish war,
indeed, he spent many Il night sitting on
big leather couch in the war room. as
he waited with Secretary Long or Gen.
Corbin for dispatches from the front.
Great maps showing the entire world
cover the walls of the room. They are
dotted With little flags, each indicating
regiment or a ship. Whenever a mes
sage is received bearing news of any
change in the position of vessels or of
troops the corresponding flag is moved.
Thus at any moment, by looking on the
maps, the President can tell where the
American army and navy are scattered.
Service Started in 1877.
The telegraph Office at the White
House was organized in 1877, and was
planned originally as a means of putting
the President in quick communication
with the various government departments
that are distributed over the city. Early
in President Hayes administration, how
ever, the Pittsburg riots arose, and fed
eral troops were sent TO check the mobS.
1t was necessary TO keep in close touch
with the soldiers, and arrangements were
made with the telegraph companies for
81, Al
White House to the scene of the trouble.
That was the beginning of the present
system, and it has been developing ever
since. When the Spanish war
broke out it was foreseen that special IA
cilities would be needed to keep the Pres
ident informed of military movements.
The Office was completely reconstructed,
and Col. Benjamin Montgomery was
placed in charge. He was given a staff
of half a dozen telegraphers, the most
expert men that could be found. In
choosing them it was necessary to take
only men of the most unimpeachable
character.
The war room probably did it's most
brilliant work during the hostilities with
Spain. The signal corps, which is allied
with the telegraph and cipher bureau,
had force of its bravest men with Shat
ter when he-landed near Santiago. They
captured the cable that links Santiago
with the United States by way of Santo
Domingo and they connected it with
flying telegraph wire of their own. As
often as the troops advanced, the daring
teIegrapheTs would follow them up with
a temporary wire strung on bushes.
Tho oF fha si~yNul
was the admiration of the army. Seated
right at the firing line, with temporary
outfits on their knees. they kept coolly
at work while a deadly hail of lead rain
ed all around them II is interesting to
note that. while signal corps men are
usually classed as non-combatants, they
lost a larger percentage of men from
wounds during the Spanish war than any
other branch of the army. 1t was by
their daring, however, that they managed
10 establish their magnificent telegraph
service. They sent dispatches from the
field around Santiago that reached the
White House in five minutes after being
filed. 1t was common for the President
to receive messages from his command
ers in fifteen or twenty minutes. In this
way Mr.. Mckinley was constantly ad-
vised of how the campaign was progress
Ing, and by the aid Of the war maps and
the moving flags, he had always before
him an immense panorama of the San
tiagO campaign that gave him more ac-
curate view Of the situation than was en-
joyed by many of the generals who were
personally on the ground.
During the troubles in the Philippines
the same system OF rapid communication
Is preserved. bat the transmission Of mes
sageS Is somewhat slower. as many relays
are necessary in the long cable route.
KIM Edward. who. after the injury 20
his knee. was obliged 20 stop bicycle rid
ing, has resumed that pastime. and has
taken up fencing as being the best OF
an;iiotes TO the increase Of sedentary
work necessitaged by his new state du-
ties.
James N. Zeigler OF Piitsbsrg has pur-
chased forty-seven acres of land near
Temple. Pa. on which there is thick
growth Of chestnut sprouts. lie VIII
graft the Suraurs with II afs0 EurlfSb