Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-04-12

- in Uncle Sans army, Literally
this means to communicate by
sight, hearing and touch, using all
kinds of instruments, from the most
sensitive and finely adjusted wireless
telegraph outfit to the crudest and
most hastily improyised method of
wigwagging.
If they have no wires they can use
either the wireless telegraph or the
whistle at night, or if neither of these
is available, they can fall back on the
flashing of light or of the wigwag-
ging Of a beam from a searchlight
During the light of day they have the
means to talk with each other by flags
and even by their arms and hands.
The most important part of it all is
that each member must become so ex-
pert in the use of these various kinds
Of apparatus that he can act quickly
and effectively at all times. And he
is trained to use his wits in an emer-
gency. For instance, during the Span
ish-American war. while a signal corps
party was accommodating telegraph
line In Porto Rico and keeping Gen
eral Miles in communication during
his advance, they came to point
where the Spanish troops had cut and
carried away nearly a mile of wire.
With the exception of a few scraps
their supply had become exhausted,
and they could not keep pace with the
advance unless immediate materials
were at hand Finally, one Of the mem
bers of the party discovered barbed
wire fence running in the same direc-
ton. Then they connected one end
of the line to the top wire, ripped off
the second and third wires, and used
them to bridge the remainder of the
span. Thus, for over half of the dis
lance they made the barbed wire fence
serve as telegraph line.
Duties Vary.
The present complement of Uncle
Sans signal corps numbers about
1000 men and 125 officers. These are
divided into ten companies of about
100 men and six officers each.
The duties of these companies vary,
though they are primarily used In
maintaining communication. To full
fill this mission they are divided
among the various army posts of the
country. Some of them are scattered
among the wireless-telegraph stations
in Alaska and along the cable and
telegraph line which the army main
tains from Alaska to the states, and
there is still another portion provided
with mounts and stationed at various
posts, ready to take the field at a mo-
ment's notice.
The great efficiency for which the
signal corps has in late years be-
come noted is the result of the great
change which came over the United
States army with the outbreak of the
Spanish-American war Prior to that
time the while signal corps numbered
hardly battalion, and about all of
their duties consisted in operating the
few telegraph lines which the army
owned. and few field experiments
At the outbreak of the war, con-
gress provided for an increase in the
corps to full regiment. There was
a rapid enlistment because II was con-
sidered preferred job, and because
of the fact that the men selected
were either trained electricians or
teleglaphers.
Manner of Signaling.
Those few weeks before the corps
took the field We're strenuous ones for
the members. TIL military feature of
the training included bareback riding.
foot and mounted drills, and drills
with small arms. The greatest fea-
ture, however. was that which .n-
Guided all manner OF signaling. Every
member, in both the telegraph and the
electrical departments, was impressed
with the necessity az mastering the
codes. They were told that old but
effective story of how t'~o of Crooks
men. back in the Indian campaign
days. planned their escape from an
indian camp by signaling with their
code in She win&ing Of their eyes.