Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-01

that they can easily be concealed in
q dug-out- A little farther back are
trench radio sets whose transmitting
range is larger than those in the dug
outs. but whose antennae are SO small
that they can be placed just off the
ground and not be seen by the enemy,
or can even be placed in an unused
communication trench.
The radio serves great mission in
the artillery, where it is relied upon
as the fundamental means of COM
munication between the artillery and
the airplanes which see and control
the fire of its guns. Each shot is
observed by one or more airplanes.
which at once send with their radio
sending sets the exact information of
the result of the shot to the radio re-
ceiving set back by the gun.
A new and interesting development
Is radio telegraphy through the
ground instead of through the air.
and amplified by the Americans.
Elaborate Use of Fireworks.
The third and most extensive net
work of information Is the visual net.
The inventive genius of the French
has substituted for our wig-wag and
semaphore small searchlight re-
sembling an automobile headlight,
but with paraboGc reflector which
them to be directed upon one particu-
lar spot This lamp is not only a
complete system in itself, but also
parallels and duplicates all telephone
lines. so that in case they become in
operative they can be replaced by the
lamps. The visual net makes elabo-
rate use also of the old-fashioned
fireworks which have been in use in
armies for years, but the number of
signals which are readily distinguish
able from one another under all condi-
lions are limited.
ern adaptation of the runners and
mounted messengers. is the fourth
means of conveying information. This
net serves primarily to transmit long
orders and reports but it is so extern
sively developed that it may be relied
complete communication throughout
the area.
Where the French rely upon the
mail for the transmission of orders
between various larger headquarters.
the Americans have established
motor cycle dispatch service. with
hours of departure and arrival as
regular as train schedule In our
own country. When the mail is of suffl-
cient bulk it is carried in a sidecar.
Trustworthy Messengers.
Among the most trustworthy Of the
messengers must not be forgotten
pigeons. which, when released from
their baskets at the front, fly back to
their lofts, where the mesa ~n-. taken
from the little carriers al,0-ned to
their legs. are transmitted to the
proper destination.
Dogs are frequently used in trans
hitting intelligence and orders in the
present war. The Germans SO far
have been able to get better results
from the use of dogs as information
bearers than we have.
The airplane also serves as mes
sage carrier. It wa.s probably due
ner that the airp'ane service was
originally assigned to the Signal
Corps.
These four nets may be developed or
extended indeini ely in the future.
but it is hard to see how any method method
that will not fit into one of them.
The other activities of the Signal
Corps offer OF portunities for men in
terested in various branches OF
science. The meteorological depart
ment studies the atmosphere a and
These reports include information
that affects the care of the troops.
and the maintenance of supplies. and
predictions as to whether the ground
Will De 1aVOrdOle TOT troop movement
or whether the wind will be right for
q gas attack.
Listening-In Service.
The listening-in service is not the
least interesting activity Of the Signal
Corps. There is always a readiness
to pick up any information of the
enemy that might be of use to u.s.
Accordingly, the Signal Corps has nu-
merous 1istening-in station. at which
by means of devices recently perfect
ed it is able not only to intercept
any enemy radio message. but also to
determine accurately the location of
the radio instrument which trans
mits it.
Even German telephone wires have
been made to divulge their secrets.
though well within German territory,
where it is impossible to tap their
lines. All this is accomplished by one
Of the most ingenious instruments
which has yet been produced.
BY means of it our Signal Corps
man can sit in his dug-out on the
front line with a receiver to his ear
and hear any telephone message with
in the enemy's territory. even though
several thousand Huns all jabbering
their lingo may intervene between
him and the nearest point to the
wires.