El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-17

1.-THE "Pershing zone" is fact. a
little strip OF the United
\ States extends across France
from the American base on the
French coast 20 the front line
American trenches.
After a detailed investigation OF
the system established by the British
and French. Gen. PershinE has de-
cided TO establish a complete. Ameri-
can controlled line Of communica-
Tie business OF maintaining an
army at the front is like running
small nation. CONTINUALLY subjected
TO series OF earthquakes. devastat-
ing fires. floods. famine. plague and
sudden death. Il is carefully
planned effort 10 meet the unexpect-
ed.
Boss Of Communications Is Important
Gen. Pershing's army al the front
must spend its entire time and atten-
ton on the business Of fighting the
enemy. But behind the army at tho
front is another army whose business
It is 20 keep the army at the front
In condition TO fight
and the commander OF this army
behind the army"-whose name prob
ably viii never be mentioned IN dis
patC1es-is, next TO Gen Pershlng
himself. the most important man on
French soil today His modest title
Is 'Commander OF the Line or Com
munICauous-' The zone which ne
commands embraces a strip Of terri
tory from and including the base, TO
the point where contact is made with ,
the trains Of the combatanr forces on /
the front
This is the circulatory system OF
PershinE'S army Its railroad .
arteries" pump forward the food.
clothing ammunition. tools ana
equipment needed al the front and T.
its s'veins" OF steel rail carry back F.
20 the heart" at the base the sick .
and wounded the worn out guns for .
refittiuE, the wagons that must be .
repaired. and the empEy Nehlcles .
which must be refilled and sent pulls .
ing forward again
Before q single one Of Pershins's .
fighters landed in France groups OF .
staff corps men from every technical
branch OF the army went with PERISH
ing ahead 10 make all arrangements
for receiving, supplying and forward
ing the troops The result g the
''Pershing Zone in France
How does this zone work.
The commander OF the line OF com
three acmi illustrative units tai sup
ply. sanitary and telegraph service
Cd service Of military railways,
tc) service OF military police
Lines Of Communication are Divided.
To administer and control the sup
ply. sanitary and telegraph service"
the line of communication is divided
into two sections base section and +.
an advance sectIOn-each with an as
sisranr chief Of staff in charge, com
petent 10 issue orders in the name or .
the commander. The advance section I
commander establishes his headQuar- /
tiers at the advance depot on the rail t
head mediaCeIy behind the fighting /.
troops Here he has under him F.
staff representing the Quartermasre ]
medical engineer. ordinance and sig
nal corps To his depot are attached I
ammunition. supply, sanitary and en- .
Eineer columns 10 connect with the .
correspond ne divisional columns al
tarhed 10 the fighting troops
The commander Of the base secLlon
controls all that portion OF the line
Of communications up TO the depOts, ]
sanitary units and telegraph stations
of the advance section. He viii prob
ably make his headquarters AZ the
base on the coast. where he has
staff similar 20 that Of the advance
section
These men are responsible 10 the
commander OF the line Of cOmmunl- .
the war department at home). that .
the reserve supplies on hand in his .
various depoIs shall be maintained .
between the maximum and minimum .
amounts fixed by Gen Pershing. For I
instance. a division t2S.334 mem must
have 400 tons o. medical stores alone +
as its initial supply. For every mil F.
lion men on the front a thousand ton
refriEerating plant must be main
tanned at the railhead. and storage
HH-.-.r Low - r~are
line at the base.
To keep these replenished the com
municatiOns commander furnishes
the war department a copy OF e list
Of the stores required. showing the
maximum and minimum amounts 10
be kept on hand
He prepares and enforces stringent
regulations for the physical exam
nation OF sick and wounded men
back from the front so that the force
in the field shall not be depleted by
maIiugering. Under his command are