Military use of wire fences for telephoning

Military Use of Wire Fences for Telephoning.

By W. D. Hornady.

In the West and Southwest, where there are long stretches of unbroken wire fences, these wires are frequently used to convey telephone messages from one point to another. In some localities the fence wires are converted into regular telephone lines with permanent equipment for practical use. These lines are often from 10 to 30 miles long, and are a great convenience to the people of the ranches.

The United States Army Signal Corps is well trained in the use of wire fences for telephone purposes. In the military maneuvers that take place in the ranch region the Signal Corps plays an important part in directing the movement of the troops by improvised telephones. In some localities, where the country is rough or heavily wooded, it is impossible to convey the signals from one point to another by the usual method of flags or other visual signals. It is then that the telephone is brought into play. Each detachment of Signal Corps men is equipped with a field telephone attachment. It requires the work of but a minute or two to connect this attachment with a fence wire and to get in direct communication with headquarters.

The use of the fence wires for telephone communication obviates the necessity of constructing temporary field telephones by the Signal Corps.

Signal Corps Men Utilizing Wire Fence for Field Telephone Work.

It sometimes happens that a little difficulty is obtained in using the wires on account of some poor connection or break, but it usually does not take long to discover and remove the cause of the trouble. On some of the big ranches straight lines of wire fences 50 to 75 miles long are, frequently found, and these afford excellent opportunity for good military field-telephone service. As a matter of necessity, all ranch fences must be kept in good repair. To do this fence riders are constantly employed.

The good condition of the fences makes the use of the wires by the army Signal Corps men all the more practical and satisfactory. It is stated that in the event of any great military movement in the ranch region of the Southwest the wire fences would be found of great service as improvised field telephone lines. The attachment consists of a grounding piece and a transmitter and receiver. The equipment is light of weight and has little bulk. It is easily carried from place to place, and mounted on horses the Signal Corps is able to rush from place to place, changing the telephone attachment from one fence to another as the necessity of communication demanded. It is said that the army tests which have been made of the fence wires for telephone purposes have proved highly successful. At the military maneuvers of the troops held near Fort Sam Houston, Tex., last year, the work of the Signal Corps in the use of the field telephone was a most interesting feature of the programme. It is planned to give another elaborate demonstration of field telephoning at the maneuvers of the troops of the depcirtments of Texas and Colorado, which are to be held at the same place-during the coming summer.