The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-06
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instrument wagon and pack mules all
loaded with necessary instruments
The lines can be laid In a compare
lively short time and put IN working
order. During the present war much
OF this must be done at night. and
not infrequeutly the wiring party are
surprised by the enemy and there lis a
sk.rmish. On small field lines the
buzser Is universally used and the
whole apparatus can be carried In a
small leather case Weighing only a
few pounds
or course. wireless telegraphy is the
greatest asset OF the Signal Corps and
two types OF this are used by our
-Army. Both are portable. the small
err can be carried on pack mules and
has range OF some twenty Ave nsies-
while The larger outfit must be carried
on wagon. According 10 weather
conditions and the ground nearby 4
has range OF from seventy Ave 10
eight hundred miles. The wireless
telephone Is still In It's infancy al
though some very successful expert
m ents were made In II year or two
ago. When this is perfected IT WITH
do away with the wires which are 10
difficult to keep intact on the ncid.
Emergency Signals
The Signal Corps man must know
tho various emergency signals EN-
ployed by the Army when circum-
stances permit and conditions justify
and when authorized by efficers IN i'm.
mediate command OF the station or
troops These signals are to call at.
tention 10 persons within their radius
They may indicate distress. ask assist
ance, give general alarm In case OF
riot, attack food or fire. or for any
other urgent reason. Sna oke bombs
and rockets are sometimes used Tor
this purpose. There is code OF these
signals which the eye and car branch
OF our service understand. For IN
stance smoke bomb followed BY
rocket is call to attention and VIII
, indicate riot or attack. Upon receiv-
ing such a signal the troops VIII ran
into ranks under arms. rapid dis
charge OF shots is also regarded a.
general alarm signal. None OF these
signals require an answer as tho man
get into line at once ready for duty
In long range signaling Il Is often
| necessary to use compass and the
handling OF this instrument Is part
OF tho military education OF this
branch OF the service. Map reading
too Is a part OF the days work OF
| Signal Corps man. He must have not
merely the ability TO locate his own
position and the place 20 which he
wishes to send a message. but he must
be familiar with the scala OF milsa
and the relative heights OF mountains
and hills, the depth OF valleys and di.
rection OF streams. OF cultivated and
uncultivated land. railroads and roads
in fact he must be able to tell tho
| 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
He'd 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 m Messages while under Are.
It is no uncommon thing for a tele-
phone linesman to be shelled and
killed while at 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 ne must carry the
instrument to some old ruin or in a
wood and run the risk OF being sur.
prisad by the enemy. He must 60 out
| at night with his party and lay wires
som etfmes 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
Our hats are OF to the brave boy
on the battlefield who fearlessly waves
his message of hope and danger tol
those who struggle with him In free.
dom's great night.