The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-11-09
FORESTERS FOR FRANCE,
Recruiting of Twentieth Engineers
Begun at Baltimore.

Word is received from F. w. Bes-
ley, State Forester, that recruiting for
the Twentieth Regiment of u. S. For
est Engineers has begun at the Off
ces of the Maryland State Board of
Forestry, 532 n Howard street, Bal
timore Mr.. Besley has been appoint
ed a Government Listing officer for
Maryland and all contiguous territory
and all men qualified should apply to
him at once.
The listing officer will authorize
qualified men to report to the proper
Recruiting Office, ready for active
service
According to Maryland's Listing
Officer. the Forest BattaliOns will be
composed Of wOOdsmen and sawmill
men, who will go to France and get
out of the European Forests lumber
and other timber products for the
use Of the American, French, and
English Armies.
They are regularly organized units
of the Engineer Corps of the Ameri-
can Army. One Regiment, the Tenth
Engineers, (FOrest) has already been
fully recruited. A number of addition
al battaliOns have been called for and
are to be recruited at once. The first
units will be assembled at the train
ing camp at the American University,
Washington. d. c.
The various companies composing
these battaliOns will be scattered
widely throughout the forests OF
France. Not much, if any, of the work
will be near the battle lines.
The forests in which the work will
be done consists Of pine and fir in
some sections, and of oak, beech, and
other hardWoOds in others. The for
ests are generally not extensive; the
trees are smaller than in virgin
American forests but the stands are
often quite heavy. These forests re-
Semble the WOOdlOts of southern New
England the operations will be sim
liar to portable saWmill logging and
tie cutting in Massachusetts,, Con-
reCticut, Maryland and Virginia. The
larger logs will be cut into heWn ties,
poles, props. etc. The closest possible
use of timber will be required. The
French forests have for many years
been managed with great care and
skill. The American forest battaliOns
must be able. if they are to do credit
able work, not only to cut and man
ufacture the timber with high etflclen-
cy but also to avoid waste and leave
the forest in good condition for flu
ture production.
The enlisted men will be picked
wOodsmen and sawmill workers. Ser
vice in these units will give such men
a chance to take part in the war for
which their life and training has pc
Culiarly fitted them. For the logging
crews skilled aXmen, WOOds-saWyers
crOsscut-saw tilers, tie heWerS, skid
ders, transfers, and blacksmithS are
wanted MillwrightS, mill sawyers,
circular-saW tiIers, engineers, and eX-
perienCed mill hands are needed to
operate the sawmill% which will
form part of their equipment: car
penterS, machiniStS, and charcoal
burners are wanted, and helpers are
REQUIRED fOT the various activities
connected with woods operations and
the maintenance Of large camps.
There IS limited need for motor truck
repair men, as we'll as for experienced
clerks and cooks.
ApplicantS must have reached their
18th birthday and not have passed
their 41st birthday. They will be sub
iect to the same physical eNamlna-
ton as required for the regular army,
Men of draft age whose names have
been posted by the Local Board" for
service in the National Army are not
alipiblp for enlistment