New-York tribune., 1907-08-11
PHONING FROM n HORSE.
Latest MUention for Use Of United
States 4rmy.

(Copyright. 1907, by John Enfeth NathlHs'
The utility OF rapidly moving horsefesh with
TELEGRAPH or telephone wire and OF rapidly NOV
ing horses hoofs a conductor for grounding
electric wire circuits has just been demonstrated
nv First Lieutenant A C. Knowles, 18th Infan-
trv latolv detailed to study the different phases
of army signal corps work in the field. HIS ex-
rcriments which are greatly interesting army
officers have proved the practicability OF con-
tinual telegraphc or telephone communication
betvacn two mounted operators starting out in
opposite directions and continuing to ride until
at least five miles apart. BY the same device
scouts sent out in all directions from military
camp can while the move, continually re-
ceive instructions from headquarters and report
hacI. everything of interest which they per-
ceive
Attached to each riders body is preaSt
reeln con1nactIv wound with two and one-half
miles of insulated wire. Hanging also on his
hodv is n "btlZZer''-a combined telegraph ana
telephone apparatus. through which a message
may be sent either in spoken words or py nleaiiS
Of the telegraphic code transmitted by puzz-
n- rather than a clicking sound Inc re-
ceiver and transmitter are In one piece the re-
ceiver being held against the ear ana the trdlS
mitter either against the mouth, II telephohe
communication is being effected, or in the manu.
IL the buzzing key is being used for teieSraphy-
AS the rider moves lie wire SOiiiiSN'NN ''NNN
his "buzzer" is automatically reeled out over
his shoulder The circuit is groundeu
through the horse. To make a telegraph or
telephone circuit complete there must of course,
he a ground connection at each end. This is
effected by placing against the horses body a
small piece of copper properly connected 10 tle
buZzcr and as the horse always mas one or iilore
feet on the ground while moving at any gait
except possfbIy the gallop. which would seldom
be resorted to-the ground connection is COM
pleted through one more hoofs.
"Of the several horses used in these expert
n,onts." said Lieutenant Knowles. only few
showed any discontinue, and those affected oy
the current were soon quieted. They appeared
TO exhibit surprise rather than pain at some
thing unusual to which they quickly became ac-
customed. These tests were made over all kinds
of ground-very wet, muddy. moist, perfectly
dry and dusty roads and felds-with results of
practical value. With two mounted operators
similarly equipped and separated by five miles
of wire conversation carried on without
difficulty, the horses standing in grass. The
.buzzer" was loud enough to be heard several
feet from the instrument. The commanding Off
Ger of the body to which such a mounted opera
tor is attached may ride alongside his moving
telegraph office and receive the message word
bv word as the operator receives it. or he may
manner Should he wish TO communicate by
telephone the operator hands him the combined
receiver and transmitter and without dismount-
ing he make talk with the base
a similar system of telegraphing and telc-
phonng from moving field wagons of the signal
corps is also being demonstrated by Lieutenant
Knowles The operator in the moving wagon may
send message TO or receive one from an opera
tor on the ground, the communication being
maintained through six miles OF wire coied upon
reels mounted in the wagon. AS the wagon draws
away from the operator on the ground the wire
will unreel but this Will not interfere with the
transmission of the message to and from the
wagon even If the mules move at gallop.
Portable equipment for field wireless teleg-
rarhy is also being experimental with by the
signal CORPS under the direction OF General
James Allen. chief signal officer. L. S. A
Jointed sixty-foot masts which, like fishing
rods may be broken into sections and readily
carried in the field. among the novel items
Of this equipment Recent experiments show
that one of these be erected. the guy ropes