The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-18
Phone
Important Factor in Con-
duct Of Modern Warfare

In no wsr in the EAST have the cleo
trio signaling systems covered so many
square miles or such great diver
sity Of requirements. The commanding
general wants to know how a certain
division is progressing: an artillery
captain wants TO ascertain Just where
his shells arc dropping: these. and
million other. facts must be trans
mitted every honr OF the day along
the hundreds Of miles OF battle front.
The following brief sketch of the t.le-
Phones Indispensable part in military
operations is reprinted from the Flee
trical Experimenter:
The artillery has It's telephone sys-
tom. independent Of tho other lines.
but connecting with the headquarters
Of attacking and defensive troops.
After the cannon. whose fire has
been directed by aviators and captive
balloons Via radio. have smashed the
trenches of the enemy. and they ex-
tend their fire, the Infantry attack
begins. The various units follow each
other In obedience to orders from their
leaders. These orders are long since
decided upon. and In the midst Of this
tumult all is directed by n general
plan. Meanwhile, further to the rear,
the generalissimo. the general com
ma nders. the chiefs of the army corps.
Of divisions and brigades. with detail
maps spread out before them. follow
the movements and give their orders.
All OF this has 10 be done along the
wires of the telephone.
The generalissimo Is stationed In n
house where many lines meet. SO that
ne can be In constant communication
with all the rear and the advance.
Every chief Of service In turn. as %an
as every commander Of unit, of one
or more lines. is ready with report
| awaiting orders. The development of
the telephone communication between
headquarters and all parts of the
forces has been so perfected that it
works without delay. Each army is
connected with general headquarters
by q line. at the end of which an
I officer receives all useful information.
making 1t possible for him to follow
the least movement OF his troops.
Near this officer another insures his
connection with the aides OF the gen.
cralisslmo, especially charged with
conveying orders from the chief OF
the army.
! In its turn, tho general quarters Of
| an army is connected with general
headquarters from which it receives
orders and to which reports Of each
phase of action must speed. More
| over. ii is in close communica ton with
neighboring armies as well as with the
army corps under its direction.
| Each RAINY corps is itself connected
with the army OF which 1t is q part
1 and as follows: From the army corps
| to division, to brigade, to regiments.
to the trenches as far as the first line
and outposts. This primary circuit al
/ lows the sending of orders and knowl-
| edge as to how they are carried out
| The TELEPHONE circuits Of the artil-
lcry are much more complicated. 1t
plays the same part the former for
| batteries and groups. but more than
this, it serves for reporting on loca-
ton Of objectives and directing the
fire. II has to insure the co operation
of the various groups of artillery with
one another. and the connection of
these groups with the wireless head
quarters, which are In direct connec-
ton with observers on aeroplaneS and
captive balloons. as we'll as with posts
of observation on the ground