THE FIELD MESSAGE.
_Definition._--The term "field message" is applied to all messages sent
over field lines of information. All field messages for transmission
over field lines of information by electrical or visual means should be
plainly written by the sender on the blank forms in the United States
Army Field Message Book. The practice of verbally delivering telegrams
to enlisted men for transmission should invariably be discouraged.
"In framing telegrams, all words not important to the sense will be
omitted. The last name of the officer addressed, or his title, and the
last name of the sender are generally sufficient." (Paragraph 1198,
Army Regulations.)
_The blank form._--The United States Army Field Message Book issued
by the Signal Corps is 4-5/8 inches wide by 6¾ inches long, and
contains 40 message blanks with duplicate tissue sheets and two sheets
of carbon paper.
The message is written on the yellow sheet, which can be torn out for
delivery. The carbon sheet is attached to the book, and contrary to the
custom in most carbon duplicating books, is placed _under_ the tissue
sheet when a message is being written. When not being used, the carbon
sheet should invariably be kept in the back of the book. When the upper
carbon sheet has become worn out, it should be torn out and the second
carbon sheet used instead. The blank form is shown in figure 16. The
back of the blank is ruled in squares and provided with scales for use
in making sketches.
[Illustration:
+-------------------------------+-----+---------+--------+-------+-----+------
| | No. | Sent by | Time | Rec'd | |
| =U. S. ARMY FIELD MESSAGE.= | _1_ | K _Mo_ | _1.15 | by |Time |Check
| | | | A. M._ | | |
| | [These spaces for Signal |
| | Operators only] |
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------+------
| Communicated by | [Name of sending detachment]
| BUZZER, PHONE, TELEGRAPH, | From___Headquarters 1st Corps_,_____________
| WIRELESS, LANTERN, HELIO, |
| FLAG, CYCLIST, FOOT MESSENGER,| [Location of sending detachment]
| MOUNTED MESSENGER. |At___Taylors School House, Kansas___________
| (Underscore means used) |Date__May 1, 1909___Hour__12.45 P. M.___No.__
+-------------------------------+
|____To_______________________________________________________________________
|_______________Signals_______________________________________________________
|_________________Platte City, Mo.____________________________________________
|_____________________________________________________________________________
|_____Request ten miles buzzer wire be sent here quick________________________
|_____________________________________________________________________________
|____________________________________Jones____________________________________
|_____________________________________________________________________________
| Received_____________________________________
FIG. 16.]
_Writing the message._--In writing the message the name of the sending
detachment should appear after the heading "from" on the upper line,
as "from Headquarters 1st Brigade," while the location of the sender
should appear on the second line after the heading "at." The heading
"hour" on the third line should show the hour the message was _written_
and not the hour the message was transmitted. The heading "received" at
the bottom of the page is filled in by the addressee and shows the time
of the receipt of the message by him.
INSTRUCTIONS TO OPERATORS.
_Use of message blank._--The field message blank will be used for field
messages both sent and received.
_Duties of sending operators._--The _sending_ operator will enter the
time when the message is handed him for transmission in the left-hand
corner at the bottom of the blank opposite the word "Received." He will
enter in the proper places, at the head of the blank, the number of
the message, the call letter of his station, with his personal signal,
the check (number of words or groups of cipher contained in message,
counting address and signature), and, after "OK" has been received, he
will enter the time the message was sent, and the call letter of the
receiving station, with the personal signal of the receiving operator.
_Order of transmission._--To transmit a message, the operator will
send: (1) The number of message and call letter of his station; (2) his
personal signal; (3) the check; (4) "fm" followed by name of sending
detachment; (5) "at" followed by location of sending detachment and
date; (6) "Ho" followed by hour (a. m. or p. m.) message was written;
(7) address in full; (8) period, (· · -- -- · ·); (9) body of message;
(10) "sig" (signature follows); (11) signature.
_Duties of receiving operators._--The _receiving_ operator will add to
the message received, the month, date, and year, and omit the "sig,"
"fm," and "at," and, after satisfying himself that the check and number
of words correspond will give "OK" followed by the call letter of his
station and his own personal signal. He will then enter in the proper
places, at the head of the blank, the call letter of his own station,
with his personal signal and the time the message was received.
_Communications confidential._--Communications transmitted by telegraph
or signals are always confidential and will only be revealed to those
officially entitled to receive them.
_Checking the message._--In preparing the "check" of the message, all
words and figures written in the address, body of the message, and the
signature will be counted.
In counting the check of a message, all words, whether in plain
English, code, or cipher, pronounceable or unpronounceable, or initial
letters, will be counted each as one word. The abbreviations for the
names of places, cities, towns, villages, States, Territories, and
Provinces, will be counted as if written in full. In the names of
towns, counties, countries, or States, all of the words will be counted.
Abbreviations of weights and measures in common use, and cardinal
points of the compass, will be counted each as one word.
To prevent liability to error, numbers and amounts should be written in
words, and when not so written, the receiving operator will request
that it be done. If the writer declines to write the amounts in words,
the message will be accepted as written, and each figure will be
counted as one word.
Figures, decimal points, and bars of division, and letters will be
counted each separately as one word.
In ordinal numbers, the affixes, st, d, nd, rd, and th, will each be
counted as one word.
In transmitting the telegram shown in figure 16, the following would be
sent by the operator:
No 1 K Mo CK 14 OB fm Headquarters 1st Corps at Taylor's School
House Kan 1 ho 1245 PM to Signals Platte City Mo. Request ten
miles buzzer wire be sent here quick sig Jones