Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-21
ave to be ghipped to the 'front.'.


European forests by regiments Of
American foresters. This method will
save burdening our ships with lumber
from the United States. One regiment
of foresters is being organized, and
several more will be raised. They
will carry with them complete lumber
mems outfits, including sawmill equip
ment.
Experts will install electric plants
which will furnish lights to the
trenches, dugouts, storehouses, etc.
The power houses will be- dug in in
such a way as to protect them form
shell fire. 1t is the duty Of the corps
of engineers to furnish an adequate
water supply for the large bodies of
nen suddenly placed in localities where
the entire water supply is already
needed for the small civilian popula-
ton. Our experts are already in France,
studying this problem Well-driving
pipe and all necessary sup
plies will be sent over. Settlements
in which our troops will stay will be
piped as is done under an American
city system.
Material for extensive standard
gauge railroads will be sent to Europe,
to cradle the engineers to carry out
their task The lines to be built will
both transport our troops to the front
ard handle transportation behind the
firing line. The lines running up to
the front will remove wounded and
salvage gathered from the field Lines
of this type are broad gauge, feeding
numerous narrow gauge spurs which
radiate from the main line, and ac-
cumulate supply trains, often hauled
by gasoline engines. This, in itself,
will be a gigantic operation. Special
mining companies will be formed for
the purpose of carrying on the intricate
operations involved in modern trench
warfare For this work expert miners
will be chosen.
THE engineers will go into the
study of battle map making on large
scale. They will study this work I'M
der expert British and French instruc-
tors, who have made a speciality of the
fields of battle since the war began, To
determine the position of targets with
in the enemy's lines by observations
OF flashes and sound, will be included
in their field work. The present war
has brought into being vast number
of appliances heretofore unknown. Bat
tlefield illumination with searchlights,
trench lights, flares, star bombs and
rifle grenades will be handled by our
engineers. Appliances for this work
will be of American manufacture.
"Camoufage the modern war art of
the visibility of objects, must
be applied for the protection of our
troops, artillery, etc, in France, and
our engineers are making this sub
ject their special study. Well-known
artists and experts in color effects
will precede the engineers and study
out the problem of obscuring our OPP
erations from the enemy The actual
work will be done by sign painters
and soldiers trained in the craft.
THE engineers will attend to the
OF all buildings for the
of troops They will buil2
refrigerating plants, ma
chine shops and other structures, Incl
dent to the care and supply of the
army in France Dredging and other
river and harbor improvements il
this country is a necessary war work
to be undertaken by the engineers.
The opening of waterways to give
freer play to the movement OF our
troops, as we'll as to relieve the con-
gestion of land traffic, is an important
measure to wartime efficiency, and as
soon as the present Rivers and Har-
bors bill is enacted by Congress the
engineers will undertake such i'm
provements on an enormous scale
The French have put great depend
ence upon their intcicate canal sys-
TENS for the movement of troops and
supplies. Many of these canals have
been damaged severely by shell fire.
American engineer may aid in their
repair
The purchasing and supply depart
ment of the engineers corps faces the
task of buying the equipment that
must be shipped to the front The item
of intrenching tools in itself a con
one, as the destruction in
this one particular has been very
large in the French and British armies
Wrecking ears and all the parapher-
MALTA which oOeS with them must be