THE SIGNALLERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 592, 3 January 1916, Page 6

THE SIGNALLERS.

- o MAINTAINING COMMUNI- ! CATION. THEIR WORK IN THE ARMY, j [By Hy. J. Reilly, in an American paper.] The duty of the signal corps is to j maintain communication between ' the different commanders and between these commanders and their troops. It also has charge of the aeronautics of the army. Communication is maintained by telegraph, with and without wires, by telephone, and by visual signalling of! various kinds. Every division of infantry has attached to it one field battalion of signal troops. In peace the battalion consists of one company of four j wire sections and two radio sections. The company is commanded by a j captain. The four wire sections consist of two first lieutenants, one \ master signal electrician, five firstclass sergeants, seven sergeants, 10 j corporals, one cook, 30 first-class; privates, 13 privates, f>B riding

, horses, four two-horse wire-carts one four-mule instrument-wagon. The two radio sections consist ol lone first lieutenant, one master signal electrician, two first-class seri geants, three sergeants, seven cor • :porals, one cook, 15 first-class privates, 27 riding horses, one fourhorse wagon for the radio sets, ant | one four-mule instrument-wagon The company, as a whole, has one baggage wagon, one ration wagon I eight draft mules, and eight packmules. The total strength of the company is four officers, 90 enlistee: iinen, 07 horses, 2-1 mules, and nine wagons. In War-time. In war the four wire sections are expandeel into a wire company, the two radio sections into a raelio company. This battalion of two com panics is commaneled by a major. who has for his staff one first lieutenant, one first-class sergeant, twe , sergeants, five first-class privates, mine riding horses, and one four- ■ mule shop-wagon. There is a supply delaeiiment of one first-class sergeant, four first-class privates, one I riding horse, erne baggage wagon, ! three ration wagems, and 10 mules. j The wire company is commanded |by a captain, has two first lieutcniants ami 75 enlisted men, and is organised into two platoons of two jwire sections each, with a total of 20 miles of wire. The transportation [consists of six two-horse wire-carts 'and one four-mule instrumenti wagon. i The radio company is commanded by a captain, who has two lieutenants and 75 enlistee! men. The comjpany is organised into two platoons of two radio sections each, two of ; these being sections with wheel j transportation and two with pack | transportation. This transportation ; consists of two two-horse wagons for the raelio sets, one four mule instrument wagon, anel six pack nudes. The total of the battalion is [eight officers, 163 enlisted men, 162 ; horses, 32 mules, and 15 wagons. IThis means an increase of four offiIcers, 67 enlisted men, 65 horses, 8 !mules, and 6 wagons, which have to be found when war breaks out. To every cavalry division there is j attached one signal corps battalion. | This battalion in peace is composed lof one company organised exactly ! as the company at peace strength for the infantry division, except that the j raelio sets are carried on pack mules instead of in a wagon. In war this company is expanded into a battalion commaneled by a major with a headquarters and a supply attachment, the same as those of a battalion attached to an infantry division.

Company Divisions. There is a headquarters company organised into one radio platoon of two wheel radio sections, with a j radius of 200 miles, and one wire platoon of two wire sections with 10 miles of wire. This company has one captain, two first lieutenants, one master signal electrician, six first class sergeants, l(i sergeants, 10 corporals, two cooks, 22 first class privates, 12 privates. 08 riding horses, two two-horse wire carts, two twohorse radio cars, one four-mule instrument wagon. The second company is a radio company organised into two platoons of two pack radio sections each, with 30 miles radius. The company has the same strength and organisation as the headquarters company, except that there are 31 first class privates, no privates, 72 riding horses, and 12 pack mules. The total of the battalion is eight officers, 103 enlisted men, 158 horses, 40 mules, and 11 wagons. This is a gain of four officers, 07 enlisted men, 01 horses, 10 mules, and two wagons. Aero-Wireless Battalion. To every field army there is attached one aero wireless battalion. With the exception of the aero part of this battalion, it has the same strength in peace and war as that of the battalion attached to an infantry division. There is no prescribed organisation for the aero squadron of this battalion in peace. The war organisation provides for one major in command with a staff of one first lieutenant, two master signal electricians, two first class sergeants, five corporals, two first class privates with four motor cycles, a combat auto truck train, of one machine shop, one tank truck, and one truck for other aeroplane supplies. There is a supply detachment of one corporal, two privates, and one | truck for baggage and rations. There : are two aero companies with six! captains, two as company commanders, four as aviators, 12 first lieutenants as aviators and company of- j fleers, two master signal electric-1 ians, four first class sergeants, 10 sergeants, 18 corporals, four cooks, 20 first class privates, 12 privates, •wo motor cycles, eight aeroplanes,