The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-14
Even the Romans of Old Mas.
tered Their Highways for
War Purposes.

narkably able article on the subject
OF government ownership of rail-
roads. u subject that has compelled so
great attention from the lawmakers
of the country In recent years.
Charles D. Drayton, distinguished
lawyer of the Washington bar. says:
The control OF lines OF communica-
ton by government in such manner
as to make that control absolute in
time OF war, or in preparation for the
eFentuality OF war. was recognized rs
necessity long before the advent OF
railways. Thus, the Roman roads
were constructed primarily to facili-
tate the marches Of the legions. And
to indicate the Jealousy with which
the Roman state guarded the use for
state purposes OF its public highways,
Giooon relates that 'Pliny, though a
favorite and a minister, made an
apology for granting post-horses to
his wife on the most urgent bust
| ness"
Just now the very air is full of mil
itary preparedness" for what may
never happen but what might happen
at any moment. The standing army
CT the United States is TO be largely
Increased. the national guard is to be
made available for service In case of
necessity, camps of intraining, plans
have been suggested for compulsory
military service, quite a number of
the most progressive colleges and uni
versities are considering the addition
CT u military course. and Just at this
time camp has been established at
the national capital for the education
OF women in the care of those who
might be injured on the firing line
in case OF war. The navy Is also to
be strengthened in ships and men and
lighting efficiency until 1t shall rank
second at least among the navies of
the world. All this sudden but nee
essary activity has been caused by
the pitifully defenseless condition of
the United States-the most powerful
among the nations in wealth and re-
sources, but the weakest of the first
rate or second-rate powers in the a5il-
ity to defend itself against attack by
a word red with the passion of war.
Even the most spineless OF the advo-
Gates of peace are beginning to real
ice the necessity Of making prepara-
ton for defense, and-nobody wants
war. In the judgment of the wise
men who made this nation, the best
and surest means of avoiding war is
to prepare for war. That and that
only is what all the present stir
among the people means, and that
much accomplished the peace of the
United States will be assured.
The Roman roads, as Mr.. Drayton
has said, were constructed primarily
ito facilitate the marches of the le-
gions;" and the building OF good
serviceable highways are absolutely
necessary to the movement OF great
bodies of troops in the United States
Il for any reason of defending the
inviolabllity OF our territory this
peace-loving country should be forced
TO engage in hostilities. The best
proof of the Importance of well con-
structed highways in the movement
Of troops is afforded by the heart
breaking experiences of the United
States punitive expedition in Mexico.
Additional evidence Of the value OF
good roads is abundantly shown by
the experiences Of the warning armies
in Europe. But for the condition OF
the highways in Belgium the swift
advance Of the German armies on
Paris would not have been possible
and but for the good roads in France
the people of chat country would not
have been able to make effective re-
sistance to the invading hosts. But
for good roads, the contending armies
could not have been supplied with
food or munitions and relief could
not have been given to the sick,
wounded and dying. ....
1t was not until the victorious Ger
mans in their march through Russian
Poland reached the impossible roads
Of that country that their progress
was stayed, and the interchangeable
experiences of the two armies in the
| great brotherly war in our own coun-
| try with the roads then existing
should have taught for all time the
vital military Importance of we'll
built highways. In the opinion OF
Major Amos A. Fries, Corps of Engi-
neers, United States army, the war
between the states would have been
shortened year or more but for the
terrible condition of the roads in
Virginia." which prevented McClel-
land from using his thoroughly or
ganized army of the Potomac to move
forward to the capture OF Richmond.
Rosencrans army on its retreat from
Chickamauga to Chattanooga came
near starvation because of the
wreached condition of the public
roads. Numerous instances could be
given OF the immense value Of bassa-
bic highways in the movement of
armies and in all the heat and furry
Of preparedness" the training OF
women to make bandages and "surgi-
cal wipes" and the education of men
in the school of the soldier, it would
be fatal to neglect the Importance OF
making roads over which our armies
of defense could be transported from
threatened point to threatened point
us the fortunes OF war required.
Students OF the relation of good
roads to military efficiency think II
of the highest Importance that sys-
tens Of highways should be planned
that would enable the speediest mo-
bilization not only OF armies but the
swiftest possible service of munitions
and supplies. 1t has been suggested
that a great military highway should