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THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JO UIRNAL Vol. Vii. No. 3 SEPTEMBER, 1908. OONTENTS. PAOa 1. Studies on the Use of Field Telegraphs in South Afrie. By GODFREY-FAussETT, R.E. (With Major E. G. Plates) ... .. .. 2. Description of a Ferro-Concrete . 37 Bridge in the Britiah Infantry Lines Ahmednagar. By Major A. H. D. RILCH, at R.E ... ... ... I43 3. Dore Bridge. By Col. G. K. SCOTT-MONCRIEFF, C.B., C.I E., R.E. (With Pto) 14 4. Water Supply Companies. By Capt. P. H. FRENCH, R.E. 53 5. DemolUtion of aChimney. By Lieut. D. OGILVY, R.E . "... 6. An Improved Method of Signalling. By Major A. H. D. RIACH, R.E. -157 7. The Maps of Glareanus. By Major-Gen. E. RENOUARD JAMES, late RE. (With P.at) ... ... .. 159 8. The SM.E. Workshops. By Lt.-Col. B. R WARD, R.E. ... 9 9. Transeripts -. 6 :--Organization of the Military Engineers Boltin in France. (Translated from the del/.Jinisteria e Guerra y Marina by 'M.')... The ... 173 Use of Sandbags as Cover in the Attack. Milleilunten ieber (Translated from the Cegensta'nde des Ariilleriti-end Geniaesens by the General Staff, W.O.) ... ... 180 10. Review:-Field Engineering in Von Lobell's Annual for 19o7. (' E.') . ... 183 11. Notice of Magazine ....... * 18 12. Recent Publications of Military Interest ... ' " . ..* · . - ... 18987 j HAWKES & CO., LTD., CAP AND ACCOUTREMENT TAILORS AND MILITARY OUTFITTERS, MANUFACTURERS, LONDON. Ia.Il PICCADILLY, Engingers. Patronized by many Officers of ths Royal G. E. CARRINGTON, For many years Master Tailor, Royal Engineers, TAILOR &MILITARY OUTFITTER, 53, HIGH STREET, OLD BROMPTON, KENT. S.W. AND 6, CARLTON STREET, REGENT STREET, CONTENTS. PAGE. I. STUDIES ON TIIE USE OF FIELD TELEGRAPIIS IN SOUTII AFRICA. By Major E.G. Godfrey-Faussett, R.E. (With Phlites) ... ... ... ... 137 2. DESCRIPTION OF A FERRO-CONCRETE BRIDGE IN TIIE BRITISH INFANTRY LINES AT AItMEDNAGAR. By Major A. H. D. Riach, R. E. ... ... 143 3. DORE BRIDGE. By Col. G. K. Scott-Moncrieff, c.n., C.I.E., R.E. (With Plhoto) 147 4. WATER SUPPLY COMPANIES. By Capt. P. HI. French, R.E. .. ....... 153 5. DEMOLITION OF A CIIIMNEY. By Lieut. D. Ogilvy, R.E. ........ ... 155 6. AN IMPROVED METIiOI) OF SIGNALLING. By Major A. H. D. Riach, R.E. ... 157 7. TIIE MAPS OF GLAREANUS. By Major-Gen. E. Renouard James, late R.E. (WIith Plate) ... ............. ... ........ ... 159 8. TIIE S.M.E. WORKSHOPS. By Lt.-Col. B. R. Ward, R.E. ... ... ... 169 9. TRANSCRIPTS:- Organization of the Military Engineers in France. (Translated from the Boleti/ del Alinisterio de Guerray Marina by ' h.')... ... ... ... ... 173 The Use of Sandbags as Cover in the Attack. (Translated from the Mizteilu nftn iiber GegensttDde des At-lillerie-und Geniezesensby the General Staff, W.O.) 180 o1. REVIEW :- Field Engineering in von Libell's Annual for 1907. ('E.') ........... 183 11. NOTICE OF MIAGAZINE:- Revue du GCnie Mili/aire. By Capt. J. E. E. Craster, R.E .... ... ... 187 12. RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF MILITARY INTEREST .. ... ... ... ... 189 .uthors alone are respogsible for the state/me,ts made and lthe opinionls expressed in their papers. DORE BRIDGE. I -- v - '1, 1-' ',-I -~ Cf ,-1 & ' 1 -' : 5-P- 1 j - r x - 1- - , 0-- {--- X0. I37 STUDIES ON THE USE OF FIELD TELEGRAPHS IV SOUTH AFRICA. By MAJOR E. G. GODFREY-FAUSSETT, R.E. III.-LORD ROBERTS' MARCH ON BLOEMFONTEIN. A TELEGRAPH DIVISION ACTING WITH A FORCE OF SEVERAL DIVISIONS. THE great feature of the start for the march to Bloemfontein was the absolute secrecy which was maintained as to the Commander-in-Chief's intentions. Very few officers were in the secret, and no one was more bewildered than the telegraph officers when orders were issued at the end of January, I899, for the concentration at Modder River. By February 8th, Nos. 2 and 3 Sections were at Modder River, and Io additional buck wagons and teams were drawn from the transport to carry spare air line, cable, and forage. On the 9th the sections trekked south to Enslin, marching with 3 officers, 69 N.C.O.'s and men, 63 natives, 290 mules, 30 ponies, and 32 vehicles. Mules had fortunately by this time been substituted for the oxen originally issued for G.S. wagons, and a number of boys had been incorporated in the air-line detachments to do the hammer and jumper work, thus freeing the sappers for more important duties. The water at Enslin was scarce, so that the whole caravan had to go on six miles to Botha's Farm for the next day, and even then the mules had to go four miles to water. On Sunday, I ith, the start was made, air line being run from Enslin to Ramdam-nine miles of terrible going in great heat. The ground was so dry that jumper holes filled in at once, and nearly every pole had to be dug in with pick and shovel. Moir ran cable in advance with the cavalry, a cart remaining to pick it up when replaced by air line. Mackworth's section (No. 4) arrived at Enslin by train from Rensburg, and joined the remainder at Ramdam. The Cavalry Division under General French assembled at Ramdam on the I Ith, and left for the drifts of the Riet River at 2 a.m. on the I2th. They were accompanied by a cable section under Moir, who kept them in touch with the air line office at Ramdam. The VII. Division followed later, reaching De Kiel's Drift in the evening. Four air-line parties continued the line in the same direction as far as 138 THE USE OF FIELD TELEGRAPHS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 9-Mile Vlei, where they tapped in on Moir's cable, but owing to want of orders got no further on the I2th. A column which had been formed of all the spare telegraph wagons got astray and went to De Kiel's Drift, so that the air-line detachments were without food, save for a sheep purchased at a Kaffir kraal. On the I3th Moir went off north with the cavalry who secured by the evening Rondeval and Klip Drifts on the Modder. The air line was run on to De Kiel's Drift, but just as it was being finished orders were received to change the point of crossing to Waterval Drift. Some five miles of air line were abandoned, a new line run, and an office opened at Waterval by 3 p.m. This change necessitated the abandonment of Moir's cable if it went wrong, which needless to say it did. During the night of the I3th the VI. Division crossed at Waterval and marched to Wegdraai, accompanied by a cable laid by Mackworth. The Division pushed on again on the I 4th to Rondeval, and in this manner touch was regained with the cavalry through Mackworth's cable. Early on the I 4th the sole use of the drift at Waterval was obtained for half an hour, and the wagons were got across by dint of using double teams. An office was left at Waterval, and the air line pushed on io miles to Wegdraai by i p.m. Advantage was taken of the early hour to run it on 21 miles further towards Rondeval in preparation for the next day. During the I 5th, headquarters was stationary at Wegdraai; Mackworth, with an escort, completed the air line to Rondeval (14 miles), and Moir accompanied General French to Kimberley with cable. All the morning the communication was good in both directions, but the air line to Enslin was cut at Waterval when the convoy was attacked there by De Wet. General French reported the relief of Kimberley by cable and by search light vid Modder River. A small party accompanied the I 5th Brigade to Jacobsdal, repairing the permanent line. The party came under fire and lost several mules. On the I6th headquarters moved to Jacobsdal, and Henrici ran out air line towards Modder, meeting a detachment working out from thence under Capt. Fowler (14 miles). In this way the base was shifted from Enslin to Modder, and all lines laid in rear were abandoned. Early in the morning Moir's cable from Rondeval to Kimberley was completely destroyed by the whole of Cronje's force trekking over it. Next day (I7th) Mackworth accompanied the VI. Division with cable to Paardeburg. The line from Wegdraai to Rondeval was repaired (it had been cut in two places, and two linemen sent out to repair it were captured), and the air line was continued to near THE USE OF FIELD TELEGRAPHS IN SOUTH AFRICA. I39 Drieput's Drift, where the detachment bivouacked under escort of Nesbitt's Horse. The I8th was the day of Lord Kitchener's attack on the Paardeburg laager. Good communication was maintained through Mackworth's cable, and the air line was pushed on to Sterkfontein. Three parties were sent back to run a direct line from Jacobsdal to Rondeval, and so cut out the loop by Wegdraai. On the 9Ith Lord Roberts passed through to Paardeburg, and a fresh cable was run from Sterkfontein to his camp. On the 2oth the air line replaced it, and on the 22nd the air line was pushed on to Koodoesrand, which remained the extreme point until the 7th March. For a fortnight, during which the army remained at and about Paardeburg, the hardworked air-line detachments got good rest, though food was scanty and water bad. Unfortunately the question of forage was a difficulty-the telegraphs, as Army troops, were no man's child, and the O.C.
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