HOW THE ARMY TALKS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 6

HOW THE ARMY TALKS

WINKING LAMPS AND NODDING DISCS WIRES IN THE TRENCHES MIMIC GAS ATTACK • [By Will Law son.] , t Thero were many men coming and "omg at tho Divisional Signallers' headquarters at Pea tilers ton camp. Some eartio in carrying flags, some were hot and breathless after marching in from tar-away stations in the hills, where they had been in communication with tho telephone stations nearer in. A few were men from "drop stations." AH wero eager for further orders, and the staff-sergeant-major instructor set them to their new tasks in due course and in due order. "I want you to put a fire in that signal room that got damn. Put a big firo in and give it a good dry out," he said to a corporal. "Yes, sir," the corporal said, and withdrew. A buzzer on the long table where the electric instruments were began to call, as an operator got into touch with a field telephone wagon, five miles away.Mapping the Country. "That wagon is about here on this map," the instructor explained. Ho pointed to a map of the Wairarapa Valley and neighbouring hills. It was ruled off into squares that were lettered one way and numbered from the other, so that B4 would be the square under B and opposite 4. In telegraphing or telephoning these symbols are repeated. A signal party sent to C 3 by the roads marked on the map would find themselves at a village, whore they probably hod been before, and which they would havo had a hard task to find by inquiring the -way. And in thia way they can find their way about tho countrysulo-und report with accuracy the places wbero certain happenings might have ti'ken place.

But it is not only in the field that tl o signalling companies of the Engineers ere used. There is as much need for Pignals in the trenches as above ground, and the Engineers are the ones who attend to this. The thin, black wiro that runs beside fences and crosses roadways, also condescends to hide itself under stonos in the trenches. ' Dry After Rain, Thero had been three days of rain, but the sun shone in the skies and the aftersoon was hot. As the trenches were approached a squad of recruits' were passed, struggling with the A B C of signalling. Tho instructor was patient and progress was being made, though some of the terms . used to distinguish letters must have sounded strange to the young signallers. Ack for A, Beer for 13, Esses for S, Vic for V were some of these. This is tho hardest, dullest part of ( signalling. After it has been learned the work becomes more and more fascinating.

The first lino of trenches was reached, and their dryness was remarkod on. This, it was explained, was duo- to the gravel subsoil at Feathers-ton. Thero were not even puddles in them. But tho little black wiro was seen'at once, half hidden behind, some stones. It ran right along the first line trench, dodging round corners and traverses, and, suddenly meeting others, thoy joined and disappeared into a dark tunnel mouth.

Communication Trenches. It was dark in tho communication trench, and tho footfalls echoed. Tricklings of gravel, shaken down by the vibration of men walking, could also bo heard. The sergeant-major struck a match, and there was tho black wiro running at the level of his head. Suddenly, on turning a corner, tho brilliant daylight dazzled. Wo wero in tho second line of trenches, linth the black wiro still in evidence. The trenches wore as deep as a maa, with numerous niches for the riflemen to step into in caso of enfilading fire. The communication trenches dived a little as they went underground, and in the long ones there were square air-holes in the wooden and earthen roofs. At .last the back lino of trenches was reached, and the black wire va.n away down another deep, dark tunnel,. into a signal station—an underground one. This was tho ono they were going to dry out. A Gas Attack. The squad of men detailed for the work had just got their brazier ready. It was an oil drum, filled with smoking and blazing wood. They had it nicely going, and one of them took it and began to descend into the trench. Tho smoko from it was thick, and he hesitated about going in. "In with yon," he was ordered. "Stoop low, anil go in and plant, it right in the middle of the box." The lad grinned, and dived in, tho affect being similar to that of a Rirautaka engine tunnel. Tho sound of his footsteps could bo heard for a time, then caiuo an exclamation and hot words. There was a signal squad inside already, working on tho wires. Tho now comer and his stinkpot did not appoar to be popular. "Bend low," advised the sergeantmajor, and disappeared with the rest. It was thick inside. A mimic gas attack in fact. But the signal squad and the "man with the brazier did not rush out as a civilian would. They waited for orders. "Getting thick?" asked the sergeantmajor. \ . "Yes, sir," coughed a man, "pretty thick." "Oh, well, better get out and leave her for a while." "Yes, rar," they replied, and ran out as quickly as they could, in a stooping posture. Through the air-holes in tho ground the yellow smoke was belching up into the sunny air. It even attracted tho attention of an absorbed operator, who sat at a portable key and buzzer beside a, wire fence, though ho did no more than grin.

• A Wire Fencc Telephone. "This line travels on tho top wire of tlio_ fence for two miles," it was explained, "and joins with the. drop station at tho cross roads that you saw. From there it runs back to Divisional Headquarters at the camp. No, (he fence wire is not insulated. In dry weather, it is very deal' and strong. But the rain causes leakage. ' However, it's drying now." A little conversation over the impromptu wire proved it to be quite equal to any of the city lines, the voice being dear and the buzzer calls almost deafening. The ramifications, of the field telephones were realised oven more than ever. Divisional Headquarters—always in doublc-wiro contact with tho G.O.C. —was in touch with thowagon five miles nway. a drop station a mile away, and the fire trenches two miles away; while from these terminals the flairs, by day, and the lamps, by night, could carry the messages on. Trench Signalling. From the trenches it would be impossible to use a flag in the firo zone; so round discs are used, with a whito centre. The signaller keens low in the trench, and, by using a periscope.' caii read tho distant signals. Ue sends by thrusting tho disc up into view above tho ground. A lamp is sometimes used for day signalling, tho globe being inside a black painted open box. whoso edges project beyond the laim. -md shut, out much of the daylight. Kite!- a lamp is visible nt a long distance. H an application of the law which »ni>bies a man at the bottom of a mino I" see the stars by day. simply because the daylight is shut off, and his eyes can catch tho fainter, gleam of tho stars. Tho lamps that are used at night bv tho Divisional Signallers arc neat., handy things, with, a battery inside the case and a key on the outside.