The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-30
DEID AGAINST /
FiIipinos Are Holy Terrors on
Telegraph Wires.
DELAYED SIGNAL CORPS
Chief of Signal Corps Makes
His Annual Report

Washington. CT 2s.-GeneraI Greeley.
chief signal officer in his annual report
says:
THE operations Of the signal corps
have been co-existent with the operation
of the army of the United States. not
theoretically but on broad lines and ac-
tivities which have comprised practically
the entire area. not only OF the United
States proper. but also of Alaska, Cuba,
Porto REQ. the Philippines and portion
of China
THE muster out of the last volunteer
soldier would seem to mean reduction
Of work and in this electrical age the
demand for progressive generals has de-
veloped in the American army the appli-
cation of electricity to war on scale IN
precedented in military history. Inces-
SAINT demands were made by military
commanders for inter-communicatio ton
with their detached organizations by tel
egraph and by telephone. in addition &c
the former methods of visual signalling"
be increased to meet present demands.
There have been constructed Ss6 miles
of telegraph line in Alaska and arrange
ments have been made Cana
dian government TO use its lipe to Alaska.
The signal corps operates s.S4s miles of
telegraph in Cuba an increase Of 1e2 miles
during the year.
The operations Of the corps in the Phil
ippines have been very extensive, there
having been 4,S5i miles OF telegraph line;
an increase of 2.o54 during the year.
The military cable lines in the Philip
pines connects Manila with Aindoro,
Martinique. Mesbate. Samar. Leyte Cebu,
Negros EIindanano, Jolo and Siast.
Concerning the work OF the corps in
the Philippines. General Greeley says:
IF the officers and men Of the signal
corps had struggled only against the
natural Disadvantages they were under,
their work in the Philippines would have
commanded concentration; but to this
must be added the extreme difficulties
arising from the practically constant ef-
fort CT the insurgents to destroy indis-
pensable means of inter communication.
In the region southeast Of Lagunade bay.
Santa Cruz, to Antimonan and thence TO
the head Of the Gulf of Ragay, the in
surgent troops had caused no end of
trouble and annoyance, not only by the
cutting OF the wire, but by the removal
or destruction of considerable stretches
of line. The commanding officer at Santa
Cruz informed me that experience had
caused him TO furnish every repair party
with at least a mile of wire, as nearly
that amount was taken away at each
break. Destruction OF sections of two,
three and even five miles of line was not
unusual, but TIE climax was reached in
the total destruction of thirty-eight miles
of line. every insulator being broken,
every bracket destroyed CT removed
every pole cut down and the entire wire
carried away"
General Greeley recommends an inter
national Gale conference to operate regu-
lations fer Gales. Concerning experiment
tai work. he says:
In wireless telegraphy tho signal corps
has perfected its own system. which
was the first one ever successfully oper-
atod n the United States. on Septem Der
30. 1859, between Ere Island and Fire IS
land ,ightship, distance of ten miles
There are now in uccessful operation
two stations IN san Francisco harbor
one at Fort Mason and another at Alca-
traz island. Arrangements have been
made for the establishment Of stations
in the Philippines at suitable points. The
chief signal officer adhered to the opinion
that this system has its limitations.
which are not entirely dependent on dist
ance."
General Greeley in recommending
Pacific cable. says:
1T IS only a matter OF time when
Luzon will be connected with Japan and
Tonkio and the Chinese empire. The
Philippine Islands are now only acces-
sible Geographically over a short cable Of
about COO miles Of the easter nextension
camp between Manila and Hong Kong.
The experiences Of the war department
in connection with the relief OF the lega-
tion at PelSin. show clearly the tremendu-
Gus advantage under which the United
States would laor without its own cable
facilities in case Of an extended war in
the east.
An eastern trans-Pacldc cable in
Is q military and commercial necessity
II American interests are 20 be safe
guarded in Asiatic regions Such a cable
viii be of great value militanily. and VIII
especially further Industrial interests
and facilitate commercial operations.
las II is officially known that an Amer
lean cable can only enter Japan from
the Russia. China nor the Philippines.
che only possible route IS that directly
recommended u congress ~ the presi-
dent-via Hawaii and Guam"