THE FIELD TELEGRAPH. 
149 
in beleaguered cities it places the whole defence from moment to 
moment under the eyes of those entrusted with its direction, and 
it is of no less value in the attack. It is not too much to say, 
that without this wondrous power it would be almost impos- 
sible to direct the movements of the thousands on thousands of 
men, and guns and horses, which form the vast armies of Con- 
tinental Europe. It has effected a revolution in military 
science, none the less important because it is hidden from the 
general view, and seldom attracts the attention of even the 
ubiquitous special correspondent. Armed with all the weapons 
which inventive genius and mechanical skill can devise, the 
modern commander has the lightning also to do his work, and 
the electric current gliding on its secret path through the wide 
network of cable and wire tells him what is passing each hour 
in the remotest parts of the theatre of war, and transmits the 
mandates which decide the fate of nations. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE CVIII. 
Fig. 1. Prussian station-waggon. 
„ 2. Section of the same. 
„ 3. Hand-barrow for uncoiling wire. 
„ 4. Wheel-barrow. ) 
„ 5. Earth-conductor. 
,, 6. Telegraph pole, socket, and insulator. 
„ 7. Wire-connector. 
„ 8. Marie Davy battery. 
„ 9. The field telegraph, aaa. Line-wire supported on 
posts and tree. b. Station-waggon, c. Earth- 
conductor. 
