New-York tribune., 1916-12-31
By Arthur S. Draper
Article V

Article
London. Dec. 5.-There is common
,doa that every soldier who goes 10
France gets into the actual fighting.
This is as much a mistake as 1t would
bo to say that every man who WORKS
in the Office Of J. P. Morgan & 90.
,s a member Of the firm. They are all
reeessary in the running Of the busl-
-oss but only the members OF the hrm
sir in the directors room and fight the
hattie Of finance. do not know how
--anv men are employed by the Morgan
+r-, nor how many soldiers are behind
.bo British front working for the men
on the firing line, but in each caSe IL
d.. "a considerable number.
The British army moves on wneels.
There are more motor lorrles, motor
omnibuscs. motor ambulances, trac-
ION engines, bicycles and horse-drs"h
vehicles behind the British lines than
Mr. Fords output OF cars IN year.
Incidentally, you see more 0rd nlotoI
ambulances dashing about than there
arc nocifst- in England, and you could
not count the latter on the hngers anu
toes Of a Barnum freak.
Back and forth we raced over sew
eral hundred miles Of Northern France
and after a short time We grew accus-
toned 10 riding on two wheels 10 es-
eane collision with a motor lorry. Ana
We rode on two wheels most OF the
time When il wasn't a motor lorry
i, was q motor ambulance or mile
long train Of transport wagons or
dispatch bearer on a motorcycle
Every One in a Hurry
Everv one was in hurry, every one
seemed 20 get there without accident.
Some Of these amateur motor drivers
would set a merry pace for the Sheeps.
head Bay speed kings or the stars OF
Indianapolis. -.
Everv motor lorry carries at least
two soldiers; there are hundreos OF
notorcvclists who carry dispatches;
there are thousands Of ambulance driV-
ors and stretcher bearers; there are
thousands OF horse-drawn wagons, on
every one of which there are Two SOL
diers: there arc soldiers dong nothlh8
but filling and driving water carts,
there are plumbers, electricians ana
civil, mechanical, electrical ana Sahir
tsry engineers; there are thoushnus %
soldiers, using picks and shovelS, Dullu-
INK IOtLh IkI AAO
there are thousands of doctors ana or
derlies who are In France puV eV"l I"'
from the trenches. ~
And this does not begin 70 tell the
tale Of the army behind the lines. an
army as necessary for the successful
prosecution Of this gigantic war as 'ne
very bullets fired from the rines.
From a vantage point ] looked out
over one Of the bioodiest battlefelds OF
the war and saw in the distance Notre
Dame de Lorette. Givenchy, Neuville St
Vast. and. nearer, la Targette and the
Labyrinth.
Comparatively Quiet Day
In the foreground was white stretch
~ road. as deserted and peaceful IN the
bright October sunlight as Broad Street
on Sunday afternoon. II looked
tempting and inviting In the distance
there was an occasional burst OF
shell. but IL was a comparatively quiet
day and war seemed far away. Ihat
road ran into hell. Any one who took
d invited quick trip TO eternity
Over beyond, on Vimy ridge. Germans
We're watching through glasses ana the
gunncrs were ready. But persons nave
gone, and probably will again, down
that road in motor ambulance ano re-
AAtNN0 WIN CUdp nAV H"N ~
through the stomach and needed I'M
mediate medical attention such AS ne
could not receive in a front line trench:
Il takes real nerve 20 do this kind OF
work: more nerve than 20 rush forward
IN charge with a gun in hand. The
surgeon who sits beside the ambulSnce
driver welcomes the protection OF even
the canvas-covered motor hood.
The messenger boys" OF the irony
DO not have 20 read "Dashing Diamond
Dick" and novels Of this type 70 get
thrills Whore life and death de-
pend upon speed, dispatches are deiiv-
cred al any hour. in any weather. Close
up 70 the lines 1be fare Of light IS
enough 20 draw the FIRE o. German
gunners, whatever the hour o. tne
night
Activity After Sunset
When the sun sets sctiTity on ooth
sides Of the line is doubled, for under
ne cover Of darkness II is possible 70
90 many things necessary for the NOR
row. That is the time when the young
Dispatch bearers race along on their
motorcycles, threading their way in and
OUT among the motor lorrics, wagons.
mmarching Infantry and tugging horses.
.-toey travel without light at bresk-