Evening star., 1917-09-22
BY JUNIUS b. WOOD.
CabIegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.

Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1917.
AMERICAN FIELD DHEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, September 21.-Thrilling
experiences are happening nightly to
the regiment of American engineers
now operating trains in the war zone.
At present there are double crews
made up of Frenchmen and Americans.
Later there will be only French
pilot and Interpreter and finally the
trains will be operated solely by
Americans.
The road being operated Is a main
line. which branches in three directions
when 1t nears the trenches. Illness
among the engineers has been trifilng,
only one serious case having occurred
and this was an operation for appendi-
citis. The patient protested vigorously
at being left in a hospital in the near
est big city when his companions left
for active duty.
Some fine morning one of the crews
tied to the fire box" declared bald
headed engineer. All have the same
fine spirit. They are as brave as SOL
diers and more confident of victory
than some of the regulars. 1t is novel
sight to see an engineer leaning out OF
the cab window with his head capped
by a steel helmet and a fireman buSlly
Shoveling coal and sweating under his
heavy headpiece. The brakemen and
conductors are also uniformed like SOL
diers and carry rifles. The only cloth
ing worn that is not part of the uni
form are the OVerallS and jumpers or
the engine crews.
1T is as fine a looking bunch of men
as | have seen in France" commented
an experienced army officer.
Part of Veteran Army.
The men have been accorded a great
honor by the French in being made a
part of their veteran army and in
trusted with one of the most vital of
their front communication lines. They
have changed a lot since the days they
trained at home. They have marched
before potentates. slept on the floors
of box cars and have been welcomed
with open arms by the impulsive
French. \ few short weeks have hard
ened them into veterans. l saw the last
battalion take a train at l o'clock yes
terday morning, cheering, laughing and
joking as they were pulling out of the
city where they had lived for month
to go to their permanent stations on
the line.
1 saw them again pulling in at noon
almost twelve hours later. for in an
automobile I had beaten them there.
There was no complaining at the all
night ride. They were the same cheer
full, quiet. businesslike men anxious to
get to work, face dangers and accom-
war.
These men of the locomotive oil can,
shovel and brake are as much heroes as
the soldiers who go into the trenches.
They face not only the dangers Of the rail,
but the added ones of war. Daily danger
is an old story with them and they are
probably cooler under fire than the men
who do the actual fighting. Most Of them
are men of mature experience and the
pick, physically, of the American railroad
ers. There is not weaklng in the whole
outfit. l spoke to a young fellow busily
loading a truck. A few months ago l
called on him at the University Club in
Chicago. The mens belong to all grades
and all classes at home, but here they
must all come up to the same standard
in strength and esprit de corps.
Nearly All Railroad Men.
The colonel who organized the regiment
was promoted to a higher rank in the
engineering forces in France and this pos
sibly accounts for the post of honor it
has received. One other Regular Army
officer and the supply officer. who for
merly was an alderman. are the only Off
GERS not railroad men. They were, with
these exceptions, all recruited from the
great American railways. The men are
not only facing danger but they are max