"S.O.S." CALL ON THE BATTLEFIELD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2719, 14 March 1916, Page 9

"5.0.5." CALL ON THE BATTLEFIELD

THE SIGNALLERS' POST

TICKLISH WORK IN THE FIRING LINE

The cry for help, "S 0 S," tho same oil land as oil sea, Hashes ovdr the wire, and in 60 seconds, or so is repeated in tho signal office of every unit in the division. In a few moments the rattlo of machinc-guiis, tho deafening thunder of cannon, and the shriek of shells in the air, all on their errands of destruction to tho enemy's trenches, tell that tho call has been answered. And tho fact that it is answered ill the maximum of effect is in no small measure duo to tho efficiency of the Royal Engineers' Signal Service, which maintains communication between the various units and high officials on our fighting fronts in Franco, tho Dardanelles, and Serbia. The Signal Service is one of the most interesting, and, at tho samo time, one of tho hardest-worked departments in Clio British Army. It provides plenty of thrills, too. One can get all the excitement he wants in a very short period during an attack either by our own troops or by the enemy. At all times and at all costs communication lias to be maintained. Tenso moments are experienced by the hundred in laylug tho cable which onables tho "buzzers" to work from one position to another. It is when the "strafe" is at its height that the work is hardest and most urgent. Unhealthy! The climbing of telegraph poles within sight of tho German lines is a practice which, though sometimes absolutely nccossary, should bo discouraged. "You had bettor bo careful there. A machine-gun is trained on that road," is the ■ instruction given. "Very good, sir." But the wire has to be laid, and, machine-gun or no, a special typo of fastening has to be made at tho top of an extremely slinky jpole, with, perhaps, a particularly violent "strafe" taking placo in the immediate vicinity: While performing this work it is at times possible to obtain quite an interesting but oxtromely unhealthy view of the Gorman lines.

Another ticklish job is that of the linesman ant in search of a fault. It often happens that, on a wet, dark night, a circuit fails, either through the line being out maliciously or by shell-fire. . Then, with a pair of pliers, a jack-knife, spare wire, and other' equipment, the linesman sallies forth in search of a break, "somewhere in that ditch about fifty yardslto tlie right of 'Suicide Corner,'" or some otlier equally "unpleasant spot. By the light of the gleaming star-shells lie goes in search of trouble —and troubles lie finds, too, though not always of the nature he hopes.

It says much for the linesman's qualities that lie ncyer thinks of com-, ing in until the fault is cleared or he is satisfied that it is beyond his con. trol. In one divisional signal company now in France there are no fewer than five linesmen who are proud pos. sessors of the D.C.M. By reason of the fact that work in a signal company requires a high standard of intelligence and cfficicncy, it is generally found that signallers are particularly keen and have no desire to change into any other branch of the service.

I will give an instance of cable work at tbo front'under certain conditions. During the recent attack by tho British and French troops, supports were hurriedly rushed into position to help one of the New Army divisi'.ns. It was towards the end of t : lie four days' bombardment which preceded the great offensive ,on tho early morning of September 25. Until communication was established) between tho extra brigade of men and divisional headquarters, tlie supports, moving in the dark—both literally and metaphorically—could be of but little use. 1

It was a pitch-dark night and raining steadily when the end of the wire was left in the divisional signal office. No lights were allowed, and the men scrambled at the double through themud; in their hurry to roach the cable wagon. The order "Walk—march" was given. One dexterous sapper paid out tho cable, and others followed in their rear making the wire safe from damage by traffic. A Fine Exploit. At the end of half a minute the horses were moving at the trot; before a minute had passed tho commander's ■whistle had given the order to canter. With the horses straining at the harness as they dashed over the stone sotts, on the outskirts of that oldfashioned French town, the cable paid out at a rapid rate for a good liall'mile. But tne pace could not last. In the darkness, the wire got twisted round tho axle of the drum, caught, and snapped. Two or three useful minutes wore lost in halting tho wagon and dropping a man to effect repairs. Tho detachment could not afford another break, which , would mean further delay, and would also entail leaving an. other man behind if every possible means of saving time was to be utilised. ; A river had to be crossed, and, for the time being, the wire was left looped over the draw-bridge. Fifty yards further on two roads branched off, but, as luck would havo it, some disused electric power lino supports were attached to tho sides of the houses. ■Ladders, carricd oil. tho wagon, were quickly brought into' use, and the wiro was slung across these supports thirty feet overhead and made fast. The streets were full of traffic—heavy lorries with supplies, infantry on tho march, ammunition columns dashing towards tho firing line with food for the guns, swearing soldiers, and excited JVench civilians. While the last halfmile of cable was being run out tho commander was ascertaining the whereabouts of the brigade headquarters, and exactly nineteen miintes—although it seemed liko several hours from tho time of leaving D.H.Q. wo had reached our destination. Two telegraphists were left at tho brigado, and perfect communication was immediately established. That night tho supports wore able to move up, .conscious that they were linked up to an office through which they could speak to any unit m the division, and, if need be, almost any unit in the British Expeditionary Force in Franco. —"Daily Express."