New-York tribune., 1901-10-30
WORK OF THE SIGNAL CORPS.
EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS N THE PHILIP
PINES-WIRELESS TELEGRAPHI-
NEED OF A PACIFIC CABLE.

Washington Oct 2s.-General Greedy. the chief
signal officer in his annual report says:
The operations of the signal corps have been CO
existent with ihe operations OF the army ms 9i Is 1s
and activities which - have ave n1oaaT bt 5
also Of Alaska cuba Porto Rico. the Philippines and
a portion of China. The muster out OF the last vol
work but IN an electrical age the demand of our
active and progressive generals mas developer IN IN
the American army the apphcalon OF eiecItlSSitS ~
TO war a scale unprecedented in military his
tory. Incessant demands were made by military
tached organization by telegraph and by telephone
mailing
General Greely says the corps should be increased
To meet present demands There have been con-
structed 1886 miles Of telegraph line IN Alaska. and
arrangements have been made with the Canadian
Government To use its lines 10 Alaska. The signal
CORDS operates 34ls miles Of telegraph in Cuba, an
increase of To- miles in the year.
The operatons Of the corps in the Philippines
have been extensive there being 4.s0l miles oi
telegraph line an increase OF 2.054 miles in the
wear The military cable line in the Philippines
connects Manila with Mindoro. Martinique, Mas
bate Samar. Leyte. Cebu. Negros. Mindanao. Jolo
and Siasi Concerning the work Of the corps In the
Philippines, General Greely says:
If the officers and men of the signal corps had
struggled only against the natural Disadvantages
Tbev were under their work in the Philippines
would have commanded commendation, but 10 TINS
must be added the extreme diihc ues arising IIOt
the practically constant efforts of the insurgents
IN
lion IN the region southeast Of Laguna de Bay,
santa Cruz to Autimonan and thence TO the head
~ tbe Gulf Ragay. the insurgent troops nac
caused no end of trouble and annoyance not only
Of considerable stretches OF line;
The commanding officer at Santa cruz intorIneu
me that experience had caused him 10 furnlsh
every repair party with at least mile OF wire. ds
nearly that amount taken away at each break.
Destruction of sections of two, three or even nv
miles of line not unusual but the climax iss Wa
miles OF line. every insulator being broken, ever
brscket destroyed o removed. every pole cut down
and the entire wire carried away.
General GreeIy recommends an international cao'e
conference 10 prepare regulations for cables Coh-
cerning experimental work he says:
In vv,reIess teegraphy the signal corps has per
s.rtas its own system which was the nrst one ever
S,,ccessfly operated in the United states. on oeP
ennher 30 1888 between Fire Island ana fHe IsaI,
in successful operation two stations in San I"l !,
cisco Harbor. one at Fort Mason ana anothst a q.
Alcatraz Island. Arrangements nave peen tnes ni1
fn~ the establishment OF stations in the FhflppliIe
- suirah HE ponts The chief signal ofcer aoneIeS
10 the opinion that this system has It's
which are not entirely dependent on distance
General Greely in recommending Pacific cable
says:
7, is only a matter of time Nhen Luzon shall De
connected with Japan and Tonquin and the Chhese
Frnuire The Philippine Islands are now only ac
cpssble GEOGRAPHICALLY over short caoIe OF aDou
- hundred miles the Eastern Extension COM
pany between Manila and Hong Kong. me ssh th
H. riances of the War Department in connection "sn
tremendous disadvantage under which the Unitea
states would labor without It's cable facilities
in case of an extended war in the East An Amer
lean transpacihc cable Is a military and CONNER
ciai necessity II American interests be safe
suar,led N Asiatic regions. such cable while OF
great value mtarily. will especially foster inous