New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
By Joseph WILLIAMS GRIGG.

Island Railroad to become general
manager of the Great Eastern Rail
way. In England At that time he had not the
remotest idea that he would see the British
railway system put to an unparalleled test
and this within few months time.
But war was declared and he became a
member of the executive committee winch
helped to perform the stupendous work OF
mobilization of the British expeditionary
force. He has learned what the British rail-
way can do under FIRE.
Little has been said about this chapter OF
the war, except the satisfaction OF the gov
eminent at the part played by the railroads,
but in an interview with a representative OF
The Tribune Mr.. Thornton told Of some in
side facts of the big job.
To use his own words:
at was one of the most gigantic tasks ever
placed on the railroads Of any country, and
| never saw job better done. tremendous
demand was made on the railroads and they
made good"
1t was all the more remarkable, Mr.. Thorn
ton pointed out, when the fact was taken into
consideration that the roads had never before
been put to such a test On occasions OF
manruvres considerable numbers Of troops
had been moved, but there had been plenty
of advance notice. While some Of the rail-
roads had had such experince, others had not.
There was no such training to fall back on
as the French or Germans have had
ALL BRITISH RAILWAYS ONE SYSTEM
WITH ONE OUTLET.
Furthermore, all the roads had become prac-
ticay part of one system, and that system
had one utlet-Southampton.
Mr.. Thornton was explaining the points he
made by tracing the movements OF troops on
an immense map in his Office, just above the
Liverpool st. station, of the Great Eastern
Railway. Suddenly he stopped and said:
81 don't believe the world could get better
knowledge of how Great Britain strove TOR
peace and hoped to the end for it than is
shown by the absolute lack Of advance prepa-
ratons for mobilization.
"Why. Just few days before war was actu-
ally declared the general managers OF the dit
ferent roads were called into consultation by
the military authorities. They informed us
that things looked very serious; that depreds
tons might be perpetrated on the railroads by
German spies to prevent mobilization. But
we were told that despite the fact that it was
absolutely necessary to guard certain bridges
and crossings, it could not be done by the
troops, for if troops were used and it became
known it might jropardize the chances for
peace.
so we had to guard our own tracks. We
were told to use our plate layers, who in Amer
lea, are known as track walkers. In other
words, Great Britain was willing to take a
long chance on vital points in her railways to
add no fuel to the FIRE. have heard many
pro-German arguments about the readiness of
Britain to step into this war. But they can't
stand up against the answer afforded by the
railroad illustration. After war was declared,
then troops did guard the railways"
AUTHORITY VESTED IN TEN RAIL
ROAD MANAGERS.
To accomplish the work of mobilization, Mr..
Thornton explained, it was necessary that all
the railroads should come under one joint au-
thority, so that they could work as one system.
When war was actually declared, on August
4, this Joint authority was established at the
instance of the government and vested in
committee composed Of the ten general man
ayers of the railroads in England, the chair
man being the president of the Board of
Trade, and the acting automatically the
working head of the committee-General Man
ager Walker of the London & Southwestern.
Under the regulation of the forces act,
passed in 1871" said Mr. Thornton, "the gov
eminent is given the power to take over the
railways as a military necessity, and the gov
eminent has power to fix the compensation.
How this worked out is interesting. The gov
eminent placed no red tape in the way of the
committee, to which it gave full power, and
things went without hitch. For the first
sixty days after war was declared that COM
mttee met every day. 1t was located at IS
Parliament ST., so that it could be near the
War Office A special telephone system was
installed, wires leading from it to the Offices
of every one of the ten railways. There was
always an operator at the switchboard in Par
lament ST., and special operators at the rail-
way Offices. These wires were kept intact
In that way it was possible to be always in
touch with every railway Office. When the
War Office issued an order it was transmitted
and carried out.
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS
MOVED TO SOUTHAMPTON.
1--WE were left to work out the details.
There were no instructions as to how to carry
out such and such troop movement The