Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
WORK OF SIGNAL CORPS
DESCRIBED by OFFICER
Tells How Armies Keep in Close
Communication !, Throughout Fight
ing and Rapid Movements.
WIRES TO ALL HEADQUARTERS
Men Lay Cable Lines, and Others
Follow TO Reel Up When Done
With-Often Have to Perform
Duties Under Difficult Conditions.
ny PHILIP EyI.,,EIvr.

LONDON, January prom n letter
written by an officer OF the British
signal Corps | learn some interesting
bits concerning the work of keepin :
all OF the immense armies in commun! :
cation throughout lighting and rapid
movements. General .Jorfre's headuuar
tcrS and General Frcnchs hcadcuar-
terS are in direct touch with nil the
important towns In the north Of France
and also with London and Paris. There
are wires TO all the army corps head :
quarters and from these to the divi-
sions and TO the brisades. 1t would
undoubtedly be possible to connect I'm
the lines so that a man in the House
OF Commons here could hear shrapnel
bursting over St. Mihiel
The hottest work for the signal corps
is keeping II unit in touch with head
quarters while advancing or rctreating
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.
My informant continues:
"A division is ordered 10 move quick :
! ~ to more tactical position. The end
OF the cable is connected with the per
mancnt line, which communicates to
army headquarters. and the cable de =
] tachment moves off n the trot: across
country, along roads, through villages.
and past columns Of troops, the whit
and blue badge OF the signal service
rides Gorseman. who deity lays the
cable in the bitches and hedges ont
OF danger from heavy transport, and
the feet OF trampIng- infantry with the
aid of crookstick Other horsemen are
In the rear tying back and making Tn .
! line safe. On the box OF the wagon
sits a telegraphist. who is constantly
in touch with headquarters aa the cable
runs swiftly out. An orderly dnshes
up with an important message: the
wagon is stopped. the message dis
patched and ON they go again.
I'm 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 clutch. so that the
cable is wound up mechanically. witt:
man to guide the running and an
other TO regulate the speed OF the drum
with system of brakes.
WORK UNDER MOST
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
"a cable detachment is often called
upon to perform work under most DIFF.
ficult conditions 1t may have 10 Law
line quickly through heavily .helled
towns. such m happened at Yprcs n
few weeks ago In the darkness of
might. The maintenance of such
line ia fraught with danger
photographers are often left on duty
In the trenches. and lonely farm
houses chateau. etc. close to tho firing
line. and leave IL to your magination
to picture how difficult It Is to con-
centrate ones mind on the signalling
and reception OF important messages
wh'le the air Is filled with the deaf
cning ronr OF artillery and the scream
Ing and bursting of shells
An experience OF this Kind han
pened to me short time ago In n
lonely chateau ON the Veres- Menln
Road. The chateau was the centre OF
perfect H. OF German shrapnel
Tor nearly week until 1t became
Almost untenable. and was abandoned
by the headquarters stan. The gsn-
eral save Instructions that q telegram
er was TO remain behind to transmit
Continued on Eighth PaKe0