Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-04-24

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 throaghs which all these
things are done is officially known as the
telegraph and cipher bureau, but it is
popularity called the war room. 1t adj
joins the Presidents private office, and
he can step 10 it at any moment of the
day or night. During the Spanish war,
indeed, he spent many a 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
a regiment or 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 ar distributed over the city. Early
in President Hayer' 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 We're
made with the telegraph companies for
private wires that extended from the
White House to the scene of the trouble
That was the /. ginning of the present
system, and it has been developing ever
since. When the Spanish American war
broke ont 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 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 its most
brilliant work during the hostilities with
Spain. The signal corps, which is allied
with the telegraph and cipher bureau.
had force of its brayest 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 n
flying telegraph wire of their own. As
often as the troops advanced, the daring
telegra piers would follow them up with
q temporary wire strung ON bushes.
The courage of the signal corps men
was the admiration of the army. Seated
right at the firing line. with tempora.~
outfits on their knees. they kept eooliy
at work while deadly hail OF lead rain
ed all around them. II is interesting TO
note that white signal corps men are
usually classed as non-combatants, they
lost larger percentage of mon from
wounds during the Spanish war than any
other branch OF the army. 1t was by
their daring however, that they managed
To establish their magnificent telegraph
service. They sent dispatches from the
field around Santiago that reached the
White House in FIVE minutes after being
filed It was common f9r the President
to receive messages from his command
ers in fifteen or twenty minutes In this
way Mr. Mckinley was constantly adj
yised Of how the campaign was progress
ing. aud By the aid Of the war maps and
the moving days. he had Tlways before
him an immense panorama of the San
tiago campaign that gave him more ae-
curate view of the situation than was en-
joyed 10y many of the generals who were
personally on the ground.
During the troubles in The Philippines
the same system of rapid communication
is preserved, but the transmission Of mes
cages is somewhat slower. as many relays
are necessary In the long cable route