SIGNAL CORPS 



5377 



SIGNALING 



;ained his power by the aid of hired troops, 

 ind after that time seems to have encountered 

 to effective opposition. 



As Holy Roman Emperor he convened the 

 Council of Constance, to put an end to the 

 lussite controversy; and his desertion of John 

 luss, whom he had promised to protect, is a 

 tain on his memory. From 1419 to 1436 he 

 ras engaged in a terrific struggle in Bohemia, 

 phich was finally terminated by the acknowl- 

 dgment of Sigismund as king of that country. 



SIGNAL CORPS , kohr, a branch of the army 

 phich has been called the eyes and nerves of 

 he service. In the early days of the American 

 Var of Secession (1861-1865) the members of 

 he signal corps were derisively referred to as 

 flag-floppers" a term changed only a little 

 ater from derision to respect and admiration, 

 n modern warfare an army without its signal 

 orps simply could not exist; with expert sig- 

 lalers, an army or armies occupying a front 

 ^tended over 150 miles of territory may be 

 nade to maneuver as one man. The members 

 if the Signal Corps are experts in every known 

 aeans of communication, by day or by night, 

 >y the flicker of a match visible only at a few 

 r ards, by the use of flags, by the heliograph or 

 >y wireless telegraphy, across oceans and con- 

 inents. By far the most modern aid to armies 

 3 the military aircraft. 



Signaling by Aircraft. At the commence- 

 aent of the War of the Nations, in August, 

 914, all the world wondered what part would 

 >e played in the war by aeroplanes and other 

 lircraft. It was soon discovered that as aids to 

 he armies the importance of the aerial forces 

 :annot be overestimated. For scouting, ascer- 

 aining and reporting the position and strength 

 )f the enemy and the disposition of his artil- 

 ery, the signalers of the air have proved in- 

 raluable. At long ranges, the guns of the enemy 

 ire invisible, and only by the signals from 

 he daring air scouts can the correct range be 

 bund. While bombs may be thrown from air- 

 sraft and inflict damage, the greatest efficiency 

 )f the aerial forces lies in their cooperation by 

 signal with the artillery and the army gener- 

 iHy. The daring of the air signalers of all 

 lationalities engaged in the war was remark- 

 ible. The appearance of an aeroplane was the 

 signal for bombardment. Yet day after day 

 :he signalers returned to their duty, even en- 

 gaging themselves in deadly battles several 

 housand feet above the earth, sacrificing their 

 ives in the endeavor to give their friends be- 

 ow the much-needed signals. 

 337 



The history of the signal corps of the United 

 States army dates from 1860, when Major Al- 

 bert J. Myer was appointed chief signal officer. 

 In 1863 the Signal Corps became a separate and 

 complete organization, efficient in land and naval 

 service. After being for a time attached to the 

 Weather Bureau, the Corps was again reorgan- 

 ized in 1891, with William B. Hazen at its head, 

 when it consisted of ten commissioned officers 

 and fifty enlisted men ranking as sergeants. To 

 Hazen much credit must be given for bringing 

 the corps to its present efficient state. F.ST.A. 



Related Subjects. The reader is referred to 

 the following articles in these volumes : 

 Army Navy 



Flag Telegraph, subtitle 



Flying Machine Wireless Telegraph 



Heliograph Weather Bureau 



SIG'NALING, the art of conveying messages 

 by means of audible or visible signs to dis- 

 tances beyond the reach of the human voice. 

 The most perfect form of modern signaling is 

 by electricity, and the wireless telegraph has 

 revolutionized the signal systems of the world. 

 Previous to its introduction ships at sea were 

 cut off from the world till they reached port. 

 Now constant communication is maintained, 

 and passengers on board modern liners may 

 be well informed on current events. 



Signaling between ships at sea, although now 

 largely by wireless telegraph, is also carried on 

 by flag signals according to an international 

 code, which discloses the meaning of every flag 

 or combination of flags displayed. This code 

 was adopted in 1901, by international agree- 

 ment. There are twenty-six code flags and an 

 answering pennant to give warning of the hoist- 

 ing of a flag message, and also to signify that 

 the message is understood. 



In time of war signaling is of the utmost im- 

 portance, as on the concerted movement of 

 troops may depend the issue, and movements 

 must be directed according to information re- 

 ceived. A common form of signaling is what is 

 called "wigwagging," or waving a flag or flags 

 which in certain positions mean certain letters 

 or words, according to a code. Field telegraphs 

 and telephones are also used, the necessary wires 

 being laid with great rapidity by mounted men. 

 The danger of wires being cut or "tapped" by 

 the enemy renders their usefulness uncertain. 

 The heliograph has proved most efficient, and 

 the light signals flashed by this instrument can 

 be seen and read at a distance of many miles 

 through field glasses. In the use of the helio- 

 graph the Morse telegraph code, a series of dots 



