Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-13
MANY BRANCHES
ADDED To ARMY
SINCE WAR BEGAN

LONDON, Aug. 13-The British army
has undergone changes of a far-reach-
= ing character since the outbreak oil
war in 1914, and it now possesses many
branches unheard of in pre-war days
Every resource afforded by the mani
fold capacity of this great industrial
community has been harnessed to the
war chariot, says a British statement
from official sources.
There are certain respects in which
the problem by which the British army
is faced is unique; and one of the
most striking OF these is that it must
be capable of campaigning in any
part of the world and in any climate
In the case or armies like that of Ger
many, on the other hand, the problem
of preparation for war was relatively
simple The ground on which the
army was destined to fight was known;
lit was an army designed to do battle
in a particular theatre Europe. In
consequence everything could be, and
as, planned along certain we{-defnedI
lines.
In the present war the Importance
of field works was apparent at very
early stake, partly owing to modern
artillery and partly to the confirmed
entrenching habit of the Germans. One
of the cardinal instructions given by
the German commanders to their
troops on first invading France and
Belgium was--"make trenches every
where" In fact all the Continental
POWERS had in addition to their corps
of engineers, very large numbers of
trained pioneers, organized in battal-
lens, and suitable for use either as
fighting troops or in the construction
and maintenance of field works and
communications. The absolute import
ance of the last-named can perhaps
only be realized by one who has seen
the roads during an advance.
But, while the Continent was to this
extent prepared for trench warfare, as
was natural in the circumstances, It'll
was otherwise with Great Britain. In
the British service only the Indian
army possessed pioneer regiments,
these troops being always necessary |
in conducting campaign in the hill
country When the need for this class
of troops became evident steps were
taken to form pioneer battalions for
the Expeditionary Force. From the
first they proved their value.
Pioneers are prepared to fight or
work as may be required. They per-
form such services as the construction
and repair of communication trenches,
fire-trenches and dug-outs, the Dig
ging of trenches and wiring. Their
duties are manifold, and there is no
form of usefulness at the front which
the pioneer does not at one or another
time find himself rallied upon to under
take. His activities range from car
rying up ammunition to retrieving the
wounded or holding a iercely disputed
trench or sap.
In the gerat advances on the Somme
and in Artois the pioneers performed
work of the greatest importance. The
duty of consolidating the captured
ground and connecting it up with the
clio front line of the attackers, largely
fell to them. In many places they
took part in the advance as infantry,
in others they kept the advancing lines
supplied with ammunition and water,
and beat off counter-attacks Their
losses have been heavy, but they have
accomplished their tasks in the face OF
every obstacle.
AS a rule, the pioneers remain IN
the vicinity of the trenches all int
time their division is in the line, and
do not go back for rest, except at long
intervals.
The pioneer is as yet new type IN
the British army, but he has long
since passed the trial stage, and has
proved his worth and steadfastness.
His metal has been tried in the cruc-
ible of war and very thoroughly it
hos ctOod tha fest