Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 174, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1911 — SIGNAL CORPS WORK [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SIGNAL CORPS WORK

“Stunts” to Astonish'Visitors at Military Tournament Captain Alvin H. McNeal Training His Men for the Big Show In Chicago July 23 to 30. One of the features of the National Military Tournament to be held in Grant park, Chicago, July 23 to 30, la to be the work demonstrated by the Signal corps under the command of Captain Alvin H. McNeal. While the duties performed by the men of this corps are of a professional and technical nature, Captain McNeal is trailing his men in a series of “stuntß” that will thrill and astonish the thousands who will attend the pageant. A part of the work of the Signal corps is the construction and operation of wireless stations, telephone systems and telegraph and cable lines and offices at all points where the army is serving. While the, men of the national guaid signal corps are upon somewhat of a different footing from those of the regular army, all of them must be well versed in their duties. At the present time the government has technical schools for the Signal corps at Fort Wood, New York, and at Fort Omaha, Neb. The course of instruction given the enlisted men embraces telegraphy, telephony, the re

pair and operation of electrical apparatus, handling of primary batteries, storage cells, dynamos, wireless telegraph apparatus, fire control material, e.tc. Efficiency in this course of study leads to immediate preferment and selection for special duties In the corps, and also promotion to the higher, grades of non-commissioned officers. There are many examples of promising young men,_ who in a single enlistment in the Signal corps, have found themselves at the termination of their enlistment so well equipped with professional knowledge as to enable them to at once command situations at higher salaries and standing in civil life. The technical schools provided b> the government compare favorably in thoroughness and scope with similar institutions in civil life. Military aeronautics Is another of the important duties of the Signal corps, and in this new art opportunity is offered for a limited number of specially selected men to secure training and experience in the handling of captive balloons, free balloons and aeroplanes. Owing to the varied services performed by Signal corps, there is a good opportunity for its members to visit many parts of the world. While the men in the national guard are not enabled to take these junkets to foreign parts, they are given a varied experience by visiting different parts of the country and also In the inspection of the work of the regular army. From viewing the work of the regular army Signal corps the national

Sharing Rations with Hla Mul* Friend, guardsmen are rapidly becoming exceedingly proficient In thiß work. The care and operation of a network of telegraph lines, and submarine and subterranean cables, and the Installation of fire control systems at theses coast defenses, carries Signal corps men to nearly all the cities on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, to Honolulu, and to aU parts of the Philippines. The wqrk to be done by the national guard Signal corps will exemplify nearly all of the work mentioned above, and will be both Instructive and highly interesting. One of the Interesting features to be demonstrated by Captain McNeal’a men will be the use of the automobile in the work e< the Signal coma . .. .

The Old Type of Wireless Mast on a Pack Mule.