The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-06-14

means of communication for week between Pe-
king and the rest Of the world.
But the tasks that confronted our signal men
In these play compared to the work
that is being done every day the western front.
Our signal men there have an area to cover about
the size OF Pennsylvania and they have gone at II
with a vigor and efficiency that spell volumes Tor
the superiority Of Americans In this particular line
Of work
The hardy llnemen who have strung lines and
repaired breaks ON the Western plains or batted
with great foods and storms In the Rocky noun
tains have taken to this new work with zest
which is inspiring. On the foundation Of the
French system they are building a signal system
that Will be model Of Its kind.
Up to within four miles of the front construc-
ton is not different from what 1t y here at home
The wires are strung on poles and most Of th9
poles have been planted BY the French. But when
one gets inside the shelltorn section that stretches
at least four miles from the front wires have to
be protected by being buried from six to eight feet
deep that only direct hit by large shell will
disturb them.
Within half mile Of the front not even this
protection is sufficient. as the shells churn and re-
churn the ground. Therefore all wires in this zone
are duplicated and are strung along both sides Of
the trenches. Sometimes a trench wall Is covered
with wires.
In the battalion headquarters signal office, whore
the hundreds OF wires from the trenches and OBJ
ssrvation posts center and where the receivers
hum with the constant tremors Of a world under
are, plain Bill Smith lounges In a corner rolling a
cigarette and occupied in his own particular
thoughts. 1t Is a dugout, this headquarters, and
he air is vile but Bill got used to that long ago.
THE wire to A battery Is down." Smiths
perior officer says. turning to him.
"Al right, SIR" Is the answer. And Bill climbs
out Of the dugout repair kit over his arm and tn
hat on his head
and begins to follow It along. 1t II hot work In
the trench shells dropping thicky, but Smith
doesn't mind-much. He follows the wire down
a communication trench and then after long time
out into the open, where he has to crawl along
looking for the hole that will mark the place where
the line has been broken
He gets nearly there when q shell lands near
him and Bill Smith. his face toward the break
goes west. After . time. back in the dugout an
other repairman IL sent out and perhaps he n
luckier than Bill and nnds the break.
Then he has to sit down In the shell crater the
smash OF bursting shells 20 close that sometimes
he Is half buried In dirt, calmly making the con-
nection that will enable the observation officer up
front to get In touch with his battery again. II he
gets back to the dugout he will be sent out again
and yet again II the bombardment Ia heavy, and
often for days and nights at time these men are
under fire. snatching a nap now and then In the
dugout between breaks. But they keep the lines
open.
In attack the signal men go over the top with
the infantry. generally with the second wave in
charge Of the observing officer. They make for
point where they can establish an observation
post. and a. they pass on and through the enemy's
barrage they unrol their line and one Of them car
ries a field telephone. through which they somehow
manage In the din Of battle to make themselves
heard.
That telephone IL like a battle flag, and many
man goes down with II, only to have II picked mn
and carried forward by another Of these noncom-
Blatant troops. Their business IL only to serve not
to fight. and they do 1t with a cool daring which
u not surpassed in any branch Of the service,
New In tho rOro 80
in the retreat are sometimes the last to leave the