Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-12
GERMAN METHODS IN FRANCE
Chain Of Communications Includes
Wonderful System Of TrsnspOr-
tatiOn Of Supplies.
BIG FACTORIES AT MAIN POINTS

NV AAAS&SAAaA-A - eAA@-@@N = $500
Correspondence Of the Associated Press)
NORTHERN FRANCE. June 6.-In a
one-time prosperous and busy city that
now contains almost as many German
soldiers as It does French Inhabitants. is
one Of the 'Hauptpunkte." or chief points
in the remarkable lines OF communication
which stretch from Germany to the front
trenches 80
Even "a casual inspection Of this link
IN the wonderful chain OF communications
reveals one OF the reasons why Germany
is able 10 contest stubbornly every ef-
fort OF its opponents 10 recapture the
' territory that has been taken, end why
it's soldiers are possessed of necessities,
and even Injuries. that were unheard OF
in earlier wars.
Various such 'TIauptpunlSte" exist ell
along the long battle line and from each
there stretch out fsn-shape lines TO
within a short distance OF the trenches
Along these ribs OF the fan there are
transported daily the enormous quantities
OF food. ammunition and clothing that
are needed.
The "Hauptpunkte' may be called for
want Of better name. a division head
quarters in the lines OF communication.
This headquarters has. roughly. two
functlons-the preparing and forwarding
of food ana ammunition, and the repair
ing OF material that has been broken
down under the strain of battle.
In the city recently visited by an AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent. the German
authorities have reauisitioned the slaugh-
ter houses OF q one-time French butcher,
and in It are methodically preparing the
enormous quantities of meat needed for
the army a few miles away.
Cattle Driven Into France.
The cattle are. for the most part, driven
In from Germany. For miles as one APP
proachss the city. one can see the herds
grazing on the rich French fields. BY
the time they have reached the division
headquarters they are fat and sleek.
The slaughter house, OF course, has
been found entirely too small for the
amount Of work TO be done there. espe-
cially in that department where meat "a
Falted and picked. In default OF recep-
tacies, therefore, the army has requisi-
toned bathtubs and similar inappropriate
but useful vessels. and On them lie thou
sands OF pounds of meat. thousand
pounds OF Wrurst day Is prepared for the
'front.' as well as many hundreds oi
pounds OF beef. mutton and pork
Within hundred yards of the sIaugh-
ter house Is the bakery. formerly a man
ufacturing establishment whose brick
ovens have been found to AnnAd them.
selves very well TO the baking II 1906
! loaves OF bread day. Each loaf, COM
posed Of one-third of white flour and
two-thirds rye flour, weighs LOO grams
Where the necessary railroad tracks
did not exist they have been built so that
there is easy and efficient railway con.
nection with these two plants that sup
ply tho two main necessities of the army
meat and bread.
Civilians Employed.
Perhaps less important and vital. hui
more interesting, are the establishments
where damaged artillery and guns are
repaired and put into shape for use al
the front again. In these plants also
Is has been found feasible to emplo,
French civilians at many kinds of work
SO that they may earn their livelihood
be Independent, and not be a drag upon
the German authorities who are sup.
porting many OF the citys inhabitants
From all along the front there come
TO former machine shop the guns OF
all bores that have been put out of com
mission in the fighting They come IL
with damages that In many cases ar,
quite as freakish as the injuries sustained
by the soldiers. and are repaired will
quite as much ingenuity as are seemingly
impossible disablements of the human
body.
Nor are the worst damages always the
result Of the fire from the other side o.
the line. Thus. there are guns that have
been literally torn apart from the explo
sions Of shells prematilrely. Tho dam
ages range from shattered and twisted