The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-21
I>Lwe EHSzz2

has a range of from seventy-fve to
eight hundred miles. The wireless
telephone is still in its infancy al
though some very successful expert
ments were made in it a year or two
ago. When this is perfected it Will
do away with the wires which are so
difficult to keep intact on the field.
Emergency Signals
The Signal Corps man must know
the various emergency signals en-
ployed by the Army when circum-
stances permit and conditions Justify
and when authorized by officers in i'm
mediate command of the station or
troops. These signals are to call at
tention to persons within their, radius
They may indicate distress, ask assist
ance, give general alarm in case of
riot, attack, flood or fire, or for any
other urgent reason. Smoke bombs
and rockets are sometimes used for
thisas suppose. There is a code of these
signals which the eye and ear branch
of our service understand. For in
stance a smoke bomb folloNed by a
rocket is a call to attention and will
indicate riot or attack. Upon receiv-
ing such a signal the troops will fall
into ranks under arms. A rapid dis
charge of shots is also regarded as a
general alarm signal. None of these
signals require an answer as the men
get into line st once ready for duty.
In long range signaling 1t is often
necessary to use a compass and the
handling of this instrument is a part
of the military education of this
branch of the service. Map reading
too is a part of the days work of a
Signal Corps man. He must have not
merely the ability to locate his own
position and the place to which he
wishes to send message. but he must
be familiar with the scale of miles
and the relative heights Of mountains
and hills, the depth of valleys and d.
rection of streams, of cultivated and
uncultivated land, railroads and roads
in fact he must be able to tell the
exact topography of the country by
studying the military map, which has
been placed in his hands before he
starts wire party out on duty.
Heroic Service
Many Signal Corps men of the AL
lied Armies have won the Victoria
Cross and the Cross of War bestowed
by the French on account of some
brave act. Others have fallen in the
line of duty after doing heroic service
in sending messages while under fire.
1t is no uncommon thing for tele-
nhnna lin n 70 hA oh
killed while ats work. The Signal
Corps man must take dangerous risks
to get his messages through and some
times he spends hours in a wet cold
trench with a telephone receiver on
his ear. At others he must carry the
instrument to some old ruin or in a
wood and run the risk of being sur
prised by the enemy. He must go out
at night with his party and lay wires
metimes close to the enemies
trenches. No weather is too incle-
ment, no snow IS too deep and no mud
too heavy to keep him from his duty.
Night and day these brave. efficient
soldiers endure every conceivable
hardship and danger to keep open the
means of communication with every
part Of the line and to inform the
officers of the movements and pur-
poses of other parts as well as spy
on the operations of the enemy Their
antics to the novice seem ludicrous,
yet every movement has a meaning
and may be fraught with great signifi-
canoe to those who are unconsciously
in great peril
The wires and apparatus are con-
tinually in trouble from the fire Of
the enemy and even their efficiency
impaired through the ignorance and
awkwardness of their own fellow SOL
diers, but their duty is to keep them
in operation If possible and how well
that duty is performed is evidenced by
many acts of heroism and presence
of mind which, under such a strain,
would seem to be almost superhuman.
His signal from some exposed spot has
many times saved his part of lie
trench and his unspoken word has
been the first to announce the capture
of the enemy's position and what Is
needed to hold. The work is not easy,
it incurs many risks, but it is one of
the most interesting branches of the
service. To quote the words Of q we'll
known Signal Corps officer, you are
the eyes and ears of the Army and you
know just what is going on at all
times"
Our hats are off to the brave boy
on the battlefield who fearlessly waves
his message of hope and danger to
those who struggle with him IN free
dom's great fight.