The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-19
WORK At FRONT
FOR ENGINEERS
IMPORTANCE Or UNDERTAKING
BOTH TO ALLIES AND UNITED
STATE TROOPS POINTED OUT.

1t is pointed out that there viii b
work in plenty for all the engineer
available. Engineers from this courtr,
viii be active in the rehabilitation 0
the devastated districts, they will re
construct bridges, repair roads and high
ways which are essential for the eX
peditious handling Of supplies and am
munition. and will perform variou
other services, many Of which will b.
within range Of the enemy's guns
II has been rumored that Major Gen
eral Goethals, who recently resigned a.
manager Of the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration, may head the work Of Ameri
can engineers in France. The WORK
which these men viii perform is re
garded as important as the actual fight
ing The following statement relative
TO operations. projected and under way
to accommodate American armies On
their foreign expeditions, has been au.
thorized by the office Of the chief cngi.
neer Of army.
The value Of railroad materials and
rolling stock alone, now being purchased
10 provide in advance for the needs Of
the American army. is about five tirnes
that Of all purchases made annually in
this country for the Panama canal dur
ing the last four or five years.
American engineers must undertake
large operations in the construction and
repair OF bridges in France. They mus;
repair and maintain the roads and
highways over which our supplies Will
be brought up 10 the battle line. Much
Of the latter work viii be done within
range Of the enemy guns. To accom-
plish this work. the same kind OF
street and road equipment as is used
in our leading American cities viii
have 10 be shipped 20 the front.
Our engineers will equip the wharves
and piers in France utilized by Ameci-
can forces with the terminal facilities
required by our armies. The LUMBER
for this work win be cut from European
forests by regiments Of American
foresters. This method win save bur.
Cening our ships with lumber from he
United States. One regiment Of Forest
ers is being organized and several more
will be raised. They viii carry with
them complete lumbermen's outfits in
Guiding sawmin equipment.
Experts will install electric plants,
which viii furnish lights to the trenches
dugouts, storehouses. etc. The powei
houses will be dug in in such a way
as to protect them from shell fire II
is the duty Of the corps Of engineers
10 furnish an adequate water supply
for the large bodies Of men suddenly
placed in localities where the entire
water supply is already needed for the
small civilian population. Our experts
are already in France. studying this
problem. Well-driving apparatus, pipe
and all necessary supplies will be sent
ever. Settlements in which our troops
VIII stay will be piped. as is done under
an American city system.
Material for extensive standard
gauge and narrow gauge railroads viii
be sent 10 Europe. TO enable the en-.
gineers 20 carry out their task. The
lines 10 be built will both transport
our troops 10 the front and handle
transportation behind the firing line
The lines running up to the front viii
remove wounded and salvage gathered
from the field. Lines OF this type are
broad gauge, feeding numerous mar.
row gauge spurs which radiate from
the main line, and accumulate supply
trains. often hauled by gasoline en-. |
gines. The engineers corps viii carry
its own rolling stock 70 the theater OF |
war This, In Itself, will be a gigantic |
operation. Special mining companies |
viii be formed for the purpose Of carry.
ing on the intricate operations involved |
in modern trench warfare. For this
work expert miners will be chosen.
THE engineers VIII go into the study
OF battle map making on a large scale
They viii study this work under expert
British and French instructors. who
have made a speciality Of the fields of
battle since the war began. To de-
termine the position OF targets within
the enemy's lines by observations on
flashes and sound will be included In
their field work The present war has
brought into being vast number OF Il
appliances heretofore unknown. Battle.
fN'" AiuiiihaNiVh Win sedfcnllgntS, III
trench lights, flares. star bombs and
rifle grenades win be handled By our
engineers Appliances for this work
viii be Of American manufacture
"Camoufage. the modern war art Of
the visibility OF objects. must
be applied for the protection Of our
troops, artillery, etc. In France. and
bur engineers are making this sub
lect their special study Well.known
artists and experts In color effects viii
Drecede the engineers and study out
The problem Of obscuring our opera
lions from the enemy The actual
work win be done by sign painters and
soldiers trained In the craft.
The engineers viii attend 10 the
Of an buildings for tic
housing Of troops. They viii build hos
'itals. refrigerating plants. machine
.hops and other structures incident 70
ne care and supply OF the army IN
France. Dredging and other river and
Iarb0r improvements IN this country s.
necessary war work 20 be undertaken
yg the engineers. The opening Of wa.
erways 10 give freer play TO the move.
neut ~ our troops, az well as 10 re.
levc the congestion Of land traffic. IS
M important measure TO war time ef.
lciency, and as soon as the present
IVOrs and harbor h1l IL euactod hv