The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-18
SIGNAL CORPS GIVEN
HIGHEST MILITIA RANK
acquisitions Sent to War Department
for Equipment of Wireless
Apparatus.
WILL APPEAR MOUNTED IN FIELD
Company OF SiXty-Scvcn Wen VIII nc
Available for Escort nn'l Cnruir,

orders will bs issued to-day by Ad-
jutnnt-Generai W. w. Sale. changing
thc Virginia signal corps from type
G 10 tyre - company. Under thu new
rating. the local organization will he
of :hc highest class prescribed by the
Wa Department. and will receive
cpuipm"nt on par with that OF any
outht Of It's character in the regular
army.
Tho change In The tvpe OF the COM
PAM was contemplated when the
raui&ation was mustered into the
stat. service last month. and was In
line with the plans OF the military au-
thorities when Its formation was au-
thori2cd. The new class company will
lc composed of sixty-sevcn enlisted
men and three officers. where the
lower type called for forty-one enlist
ed men and one officer.
Captain Frank S. Splatt. who was
instrumental in organizing the signal
corps. will be assigned by the Adju-
tant-Gencral to take command imme-
diately. relieving First Lieutenant
Earle Lutz. who was temporarily in
command Tor organization purposes.
An election to fill the position OF
Junior first lieutenant will be ordered
held within the next thirty days.
Uniforms and equipment are being
issued to the signal corps as fast as
it can be brought here. The organi-
zation has already put in six weeks
in drilling foot movements. and in
learning flag signaling. 1t now has
three classes in telegraphy In full
operation. Each class has ten stu
dents. who are being instructed sew
eral nights in the week by experienced
operators. who members Of the
company.
acquisitions have been sent In to
the War Department for wireless out
fits for tho company. and they will
probably be here within a few weeks
at the most. The contract for aerials
was given last week to tho Tower
Binford Company. and they will BIO
erected at once When completed. the
signal corps Will have one OF the
strongest wireless stations In the
State.
The organization OF the signal corps
has taken just six 'months to perfect.
1t is an entirely new branch of tho
State military service. and is expected
to prove n very attractive one. espe-
cially to those who have an inclina-
ton toward electricity, telegraphy.
wireless and mechanics in general.
The opportunity tn learn useful occu-
pations is something out Of the ordin-
Iy run of militia service. end appeals
to many young men.
In time of service the signal corps
has charge of all lines OF communica-
tion, and is directly under the direc-
tIOi vi lHc DIiB'tut CoiIlIIltHucT. IL
VIII be big factor in the war ma
noeuvres near Washington this sum-
lner. It liz the only company of its
kind in this militia division. and will,
therefore. bear the brunt OF transmit
ting orders TO the commands scattered
ever 4 large territory.
The signal corps is mounted or
Ganization in the field. and plans are
already on foot to have 1t supplied
with handsome full dress uniforms In
order that 1t can take part In pnradcs
and other ceremonials as cavalry. Tho
company under the present conditions
In Virginia, which has no cavalry
outfits. would be called upon on many
occasions to act as military escort,
and mounted would form an added at
traction to the many parades In this
city.