The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-12
WAYS OF KEEPING
IMMENSE ARMIES
IN COMMUNICATION
Signal Corps of French and
British Armies Do Won
derful Work
ny PHILLIP EVERETT

London, January Specially
From a letter written by an officer of
the British signal corps 1 learn some
interesting bits concerning the work
of keeping all of the immense armies
In communication throughout fighting
and rapid movements. General Jef-
fre's headquarters and General Freneh's
headquarters are in direct touch with
all the important towns in the north
of France and also with London and
Paris. There are wires to all the army
corps headquarters and from these to
The divisions and to the brigadcs. 1t
would undoubtedly be possible to con-
meet up the lines so that man In the
House of Commons here could hear
shrapnel bursting over st. Mihicl
The hottest work for the signal
corps is Keeping a unit in touch with
Headquarters while advancing or re-
treating rapidly. For this there are
two cable detachments. of two cable
wagons each. One section lays the line
while the others remain behind to reel
up when the line is done with.
Keeps Two Detachments Busy
Ny informant continues:
"A division is ordered TO move quick
ly to more tactical position. The
end of the cable is connected with
the permanent line which commune
Gates to army headquarters and the
cable detachment moves off ut the
trot; across country, along roads,
through villages, and past columns of
troops, the white and blue badge of
the signal service clears the way. Be-
hind the wagons rides a horseman, who
deftly lays the cable in the bitches and
hedges out of danger from heavy trans
port. and the feet of tramping infantry
vii at
horsemen are in the rear tying back
and making the line safe. On the box
of the wagon sits a telegraphist, who
Is constantly in touch with headouar-
tiers as the cable runs swiftly out. An
orderly dashes up with an important
message the wagon is stopped. the
message dispatched and on they go
again.
In Keeling up cable mounted men
are sent in front of the wagon to clear
the line. The drums are then connected
to the wheels of the wagon by means of
a clutch 50 that the cable is wound up
mechanically, with man to guide the
running and another to regulate the
speed of the drum with a system of
brakes.
A cable detachment is often called
upon to perform work under most diff
ficult conditions. 1t may have to lay Il
line quickly through heavily shellcd
towns such as happened at Ypres a
few weeks ago in the darkness of night
The maintenance of such a line is
fraught with danger.
photographers are often left on duty
in the trenches and lonely farm houses
and chateaus, close to the firing line,
and l leave 1T to your imagination to
picture how difficult 1t is to concen-
trate ones mind on the signalling and
reception Of important messages while
the air Is filled with the deafening roar
or artillery and the screaming AMI
bursting of shells.
AN experience OF this kind happened
to me a short time ago In a lonely
chateau on the Veres Menln road. The
chateau was the center of perfect he'll
of German shrapntl for nearly a week
until 1t became almost untenable, and
was abandoned by the headquarters
staff The general gave instructions that
telegrapher was to remain behind to
transmit important dispatches from tho
brigades, and l was left in charge of
the instruments in this shell-swept
chateau for a day and night.
Spies Tap Lines
ION the second day the Germans broke
through our trenches, and the wires were
cut up by shell fire. l was given orders
to evacuate the building and smash up
my instruments.
These l saved by burying in a she'll