Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-30
GEN. GR[[[Y' 5 REPORT
Chief Signal Officer Gives an
Account Of Operations In
Past Year.
Thinks the Signal Corps Should
Be Increased to Meet New
Demands.
Work Of His Department In the
Philippines Has Been
Effective.

chief signal officer, in his annual report
says: The operations of the signal
corps have been coexistent with the OPP
erations of the army of the United
States, not theoretically, but on broad
lines and activities which have COM
prised practically the entire area, not
only of the United States proper, but
also of Alaska, Cuba, Porto Rico the
Philippines, and portion of China. The
muster out OF the last volunteer soldier
would seem to mean a reduction of
word, and in this electrical age the de-
mand for progressive generals has de-
veloped in the American army the ap-
plication of electricity to war on scale
unprecedented in military history. In
cessant demands were made by mill
tary commanders for inter-communica-
ton with their detached organizations
by telegraph and by telephone, in add
ton to the former methods of visual
signaling.
General Greedy says the corps should
be increased to meet present demands.
There has been constructed 1856 miles of
telegraph line in Alaska, and arrange
ments have been made with the Cana
dian government to use its lines to
Alaska. The signal corps operates s,S4S
miles Of telegraph in Cuba. an increase
of 162 miles during the year.
The operations of the corps in the
Philippines have been very extensive.
there having been 4.S51 miles OF teie-
graph line, an increase of 2o54 during
the year. The military cable lines In the
Philippines connect Manila with MIN
doro, Martinique, Masbate, Samar,
Leyte, cebu, Negros. Mindanao, Jolo
and Siasi.
Concerning the work OF the corps In
the Philippines, General Greedy 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 commendation; but to
this must be added the extreme difft-
culties arising from the constant eff
forts of insurgents to destroy ind;spen-
sable means OF communication. In
the region southeast of I4agulade bay,
Santa Cruz to Antimon, and thence to
the head of the Gulf OF Ragey 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 al
Santa Cruz informed me that expert
ence had caused him to furnish every
repair party with at least mile OIL
wire. as nearly that amount was taken
away at each break. Destruction nf sec
lions OF two. three or even Ave miles OF
line was not unusual. but the Climax
was reached in the total destruction OF
thirty-eight miles of line, every insula-
tor being broken. every bracket des-
troyed or removed, every pole cut down
and the entire wire carried away
General Greedy recommends an inter
national cable conferenc to prepare reg
ulations for cables.
Concerning experimental work ne
saws: I'm wireless telegraphy the Sig
nal corps has perfected its own system,
which was the first one ever success
fully operated in the country, Septem-
her 30, 1899. between Fire Island and
Fire island lightship, a distance Of ten
miles. There are now in successful op-
Grafton two stations in San Francisco,
one at Fort Mason and another at Alac-
atraz island. Arrangements have been
made for the establishments of stations
in the Philippines at suitable points
The chief signal officer adhered TO the
opinion that this system has Its limita-
tons. which are not entirely dependent
on distance
General Greedy. In recommending a
Pacific cable, says: ut is only mat
ter of time when Luzon shall be con-
nected with Japan and Tonkin and the
Chinese empire. The Philippine Islands
are now only accessible GEOGRAPHICALLY
over a short cable Of about 600 miles of
the Eastern Extension Company be-
tween Manila and Hong Kong. The ex-
perlences of the war department III con-
rect.on with the relief OF the Legations at
Pekin show clearly the tremendous dis
advantages under which the United.
states would labor without its own ca
BILE facilities in case of an extended war
in the east. An eastern trans-Pacifc
cable is military and commercial ne
cessity If American interests are to be
safeguarded in Asiatic regions. Such
cable. while of great value militarily,
will especially further industrial inter-
ests and facilitate commercial opera
tions. AS it Is officially known that an
American cable can only enter japan
from the east and not from Russia, Chi
ma. nor the Philippines the only posi-
h,e ro,1te is that already recommended