Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-10
UNITED STATES ENGINEERS.
An Important Branch of the Service
Almost Unknown.

| FROM the fhli iuelphia inquirer.
1t is curious that the Engineers Corps
of the United States army has received
comparatively little attention Of late The
one reasonable explanation is that the
great Importance of the corps is but little
understood by the general public.
The War Department, however is fully
alive to the great value of the engineers
work, realizing that in the contemplated
occupation OF Cuba, the character of the
country ard the probability of siege opera
lions against Havana. make it obvious that
an unusually large proportion of engineer
troops Will be required. Indeed, it has
been suggested that five per cent of the
number OF volunteers would be q reasonable
minimum number TO fix as the strength
OF the engineers corps. And as the regu-
lars IN the service would not by any means
I'LL out this number the government
Tor the past few weeks has been recruiting
Iii this and other cities a volunteer engin-
GERS brigade, which will, it is believed
bring this important branch OF the>govern-
ment's service up to the strength and i'm
portance demanded of it at the moment by
the eXigencies of the war.
Inc duties OF military engineer may be
epitomized as follows: He must aid in
every way Ii bringing his army face to
race with the enemy, and then turn in and
fight He must BE- equally expert with the
hammer, the spade and the ride He plans
and builds Notifications points out where
the guns should be placed in position, and
is ready to fight the guns If necessary
The United States Engineers Corps are
carpenters, bridge builders electricians
sappers, miners and withal as well drilled
body OF soldiers our army can boast of
Nothing can be more ridiculous than the
impression which prevails in many quarters
that the military engineer is a mere me-
chanic and non-combatant.
whether the country IS at war or peace
the work OF the army engineer goes on just
the SANE. and he Is one Of the hardest
worked men in the service of the govern
ment Many people thoughtlessly suppose
that his work is all manL IL labor but
this idea should be carefully put aside as
the records of the graduates from West
Point indicate that in every case the
brightest men are Immediately assigned to
the engineers corps. 1t is what might be
termed the strictly scientific branch of the
service, and requires great brain activity.
considerable technical and mathematical
knowledge, alertness sound judgment, and
above all, a cool demeanor under trying
circumstances.
When the country is at peace, the engin-
eer corps is busily engaged in studying
the war tactics of other nations and incl
dentallJ' in improving their own. They
DO much experimenting, map-ma king,
building and improving. new harbor and
coast defenses, besides placing submarine
mines, lowering and raising harbors, i'm
proving channels and numberless other i'm
portant duties.
In times OF war the corps are necessarily
active. On the shortest possible notice
they are called upon to construct very
quickly pontoon bridges over which large
bodies of troops mist pass in safety. FREE
quently in the construction of these bridges,
consisting of small boats over which
boards fastened together by ropes are laid
there arise difficulties to all but skillful
engineers.
Tie building of trenches in another i'm