Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-02
RAILROAD HEADS CONFER
ON TRAFFIC PLANS IN WAR
To Work Out Co-Opcrntion Details
With Commanders OF -Four Mill
tary Departments.
ARMY MEN OUTLINE PROBLEMS
Secretary Bakcr Points Out Serious
Situation That Would Result 10
Called On to Move 800, 900 Men
from One Section to Another.
fI," Associated rr.s,

"hSiifNITON. March !.--IIesds OF
tn" conn,ry's leading railroad systems
met here to-day with tho Council ~
Naii"na! bcf"nsc to approve plans for
giving tho government fuli co-opora-
ton OF transportation interests in
even, Of war.
They comc at tho call az Daniel vii
lard. pr'sid"u, Of tho Baltimore aud
ohio. Is members Of tho councils All
NisurI committee II seven captains Of
industry. To-niEh, thcy were return.
ing HON" To work. out .o-opcration do
ta,ls with commanders OF the four milf
tarr departments
Tho more than twenty executives
present COMPRISED a special committees
on nntiouai defense OF tho American,
. Hallway Association. ana with th"r
met tn" national defense COMMITTEES Of
the American Electric halfway .isxo-
citation
.Nf,cr a "all On secretary Rakor. the
railroad mon heard army officers on
transportation problems, and then dis
"nssod Iii" situation among themselves
Next 10 the number and size Of guns
Secrctar: Baker told them. tho trans
p"r,atton problem IN war is the most
important the military will face.
IT tho country's state Of defense. h.
said:
we have como on IN this country
toi ionS TIM" IN tho s"mcwha, com
pisocut assurance that tho Atlantic
ocean is 5000 miles wide. the Pacific,
1890. or something like that and that
we arc separated hy nature as we'll IS
hy traditions ard our own desires from
any sort OF difficulty
But We have grown lot wiser in
tho last few years on tina: general sub
jcct; and. while I am quite sure that
YOU regard peace rs most desirable We
are. nevertheless, concerned as 10 the
means Of accomplishing its contlnu-
ancc.
Moving Of Suardsmen 20 the Mexican
border, the secretary pointed out. was
q small problem compared 10 what the
country would have 70 face IL called
on 10 move force OF 10000 men
Our problem there was to &C, i5O,-
600 across this country from various
parts OF tho country aud 10 bring them
together on a front $500 miles long
h" said. suppose We were suddenly
pu, 10 Tho problem or moving An army
Of 800 600 from one coast 10 another.
or 10 assemble 50 large : body Of men
IS tim; in any small place.
The question of capacity OF the
tracks. capacity Of side tracks and
terminals and capacity Of cars ana
amount OF power necessary, the way in
which everything would lie assembled
and the effect on tho country .. the
sudden mobilization OF 50 large a part
81 tho rollinr-stock facilities or the
railroads TN this uOaccustorned use
the tanning that would occu.--arc all
problems Of high strategy in art OF
which YOU gentlemen are masters. and
Of which wc know only as observers
or users OF these facilities.
Il have a feeling that III some parts
Of the country very much enlarged
terminal facilities ought 10 be carried
our larger than tho present CONNER
cial and industrial needs. with an oyr
10 their future use III AN cmcrgency.
II Is poSsh that q large store OF re-
serve material should 10 accumulated.
With view 10 it's being available for
instant use in time Of ar cmcrgenCy."
Army officers outlined problems 10 lie
faced in event OF a general mobiliZa-
'ion. and pointed out need Of equip