Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-18
RAILROAD RUMBLES
-PENNSY ARMY
FOR WAR DUTY
Will Send Mechanics to
France to Build Engines
and Repair Cars

Philadelphia, Pa, May 1S.-Ac-
tive steps toward raising the force Of
railroad workers, who are to be
sent to France at the direction of
the War Department, were taken to-
day when n campaign for enlistment
was started among shopmen on the
Pennsylvania Railroad lines east of
Pittsburgh and the other railroads
in the same territory. The Govern
ment plans. which have been an
nounced from Washington, call for
the raising of nine regiments of men
skilled in the maintenance and re-
pair of engines and cars, and In the
construction and operation of rail-
road lines. Their duties will be to
aid in rehabilitating the transporta-
tion system of France and in repair
ing the ravages to rolling stock and
lines which have been caused by
nearly three years of war.
The Pennsylvania Railroads pro-
portion will be 636 volunteers to
provide for a total of 31S actual Sc
lections. All men accepted will be
regarded as on furlough from the
service of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road and upon their return, will be
iNStCi GU W lllSll Oii vi Siuihy 6OOC
positions.
Recruiting Officers
The work of handling the recruit
ing on behalf of the railroads, in
the eastern district desired has been
assigned to James Milliken, special
engineer of the Pennsylvania COM
pany, and formerly superintendent
of motive power, at Wilmington,
Del. He will act not only for the
Do I've o,,ia % htt Of
the others in the eastern district
which have agreed to participate in
the raising OF this regiment.
The recruiting headquarters for
the regiment will be in the Hale
Building at Philadelphia and the re-
cruiting officers on behalf of the
government will be Colonel Herbert
Deakyne of the Engineers Corps, u.
S. A, who has been detailed to this
work by the War Department and
will head the regiment when it goes
to France.
Select Motive Power Officials
The commanding officer and the
adjutant of the regiment will be
regular officers of the United States
army. The remaining officers will
be largely railroad motive power
officials who will volunteer for this
purpose. The company officers
Will DC CHOSEN wholly lTOlH among
railroad officials. Six company cap
tains will be selected from master
mechanics who volunteer; the first
and second lieutenants will be
chosen from among assistant master
mechanics and shop foremen, while
gang foremen, shop clerks and store
keepers will be appointed sergeants
and corporals.
The selection of the railroad off,
cials to act as officers of the regi-
ment will be under the general su-
pervision of w. w. Atterbury, vice.
president in charge of operation of
the Pennsylvania Railroad acting in
his capacity as a member for the
eastern department of the special
committee on National Defense of
the American Railway Association.
The regiment will be part of the
United States army and all men en-
tering it whether as officers or en-
listed men, will do so for the period
of the war. The ages for acceptance
will be between IS and As years. The
regiment will work in the French
locomotive and car repair shops. All
members will be exempt from pos
sible conscription at later date.