The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-05-08
FIRST TO FRANCE
Continued From First Page.)

ana British war missions. One OF the
greatest problems of the war has been
hat Of maintaining adequate supply
lines. and the railroads are The vital
element Of the system that feeds men,
shells and food toward the fighting
front from channel ports and from
France.
Engineering f"ats "f spectacular ma
lure haV" hen rcnmplishrd in perfect
ing ihcSo communicating lines. \
whole ifri ISh railroad was picked up
bodily. rolling stock. rails. rnadhcd anu
all. and taken Ia France. Americans en-
EinrCrS had much Ia do with that. they
have also. under contract with In" Hrii-
iSh and French governments. driven tun-
n"Is. huili spurs and bridges and mapped
out schemes at transportation that are
IN operation ;OdHy.
Nmrri"a is prominent in The field Of
railway engineering and IN" best talent
and >yprricnCc tho nation can provide III
that line Will 70 into the now regiments
Commanders for the new regiments
probably Will he announced tomorrow.
Work Of recruiting the regiments Will
start immediately and aS nnch recruit
ing renter is Il city whTrc there is IN
army post. ii is assumed IN" regiments
will he assembled In army barracks and
their organization perfected.
While tn" regular engineer troops Of
the army ara among ;h" best drilled in
Ii"w regiments will y" subjected In any
lengthy military training. They will he
given military organization only for the
sake Of greater mobility and efficiency.
They will carry Tho usual arms and
uuipmrm Of engineer troops. rifles and
hayoncts. hut their real lighting will he
dunc with he complicated appliances
and engines Of railway operation ur con-
StruCtiun
Supplemented by labor and skill!
available in France. the nine regiments
represent u tremendous power OF con-
struction that would enable the allies
Ia r'-mdkr their lines of communication
in the shortest possible time and light
Them for III" increasing heavy task Of
supplying millions of lighting men as
the battle lines push forward.
AS In" German forces have been beat
on back. every rcstiGr OF the railway
lines that have supplied their forces
HAS bcrn destroyed. With every mile
gained. both French and British have
faced tho task Of building new railroads
us tho distributing ccnt"rs for the
trenches w"r" moved forward. Each
movement has meant an added strain on
the roads leading back To the great sup
ply bases and III" added task for tho
communication line forces of preventing
rpnEcS tiGn.
III tn" interests OF Sr"r dy delivery. it
is understood that shrII-adcn freight
ears have mrn frrricd across the chan
mol from England sent forward over
French railroads to he unload"d at the
great munition ccntcrs near the front.
All the delay OF trans-sh pmcnt has
been saved. hut II has meant HddGS
traffic problems for the French COM
municntiou lines.
1t is to aid in such gigantic operations
as these, Ia supply American operating
skill 10 tho task and American railway
efficiency generally to the transporta-
ton problems that the new regiments
arc to be formed and hurried 10 France.
The administration action means
that American troops carrying the Am
crlcan flag and in the uniform OF the
American army are soon 70 b" on French
soil IT there is psychological value in
such L movement. az both French and
British commissioners have urged. it