The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-06
NORTHWEST GIVES MEN
TO FRENCH WAR ROADS
Engineers Who Built Rail-
ways in Rockies Doing
Service in Farnce.
ONLY FEW FROM EAST
Big, Broad : Gauge Tracks
Run to Guns and Even
on Germans Heels.
ONLY FEW FROM EAST

Behind the British Lines in France.
-(COrrespondence.) - Americans and
Canadians from the northwestern part
Of the American continent-men who
have played an important part in the
railway building out around the Rock
ies--are to be found among the men
IN khaki. laying rails right up to the
fighting front along the British lines
in France. Here and there is a man
who has worked on the New Haven
OF the Boston & Maine railroads, but
the vast majority came from the great
western part Of the United States and
Canada.
There is one whole battalion from
the Canadian Pacific railroad now at
work OH the British front. 1t was or
ganized by Lord Shaughnessy. In
charge Of this and other battalions is
q brigadier general, widely known
contractor from British Columbia,
whose motto is. See everything, hear
everything. but keep your mouth shut"
Broad. Gauge Road.
1t is the popular impression that only
% light. narrow gauge railways are run
up close to the battle front. But this
is soon removed by visit to the front
where one Is surprised to see broad
gauge railway, miles and miles of 1t.
running right up to the big guns. This
broad gauge railway is laid close on
the heels of the German retreat. Be-
side it can be seen much of the Ger
man narrOw-gauge railway which was
picked up in sections by the British
engineers and thrown to one side to
make room for the broader gauge line.
The engineers make their appear
ance within few hours of fresh
British advance. The men have to wear
steel helmets and keep their gas masks
handy. SO close are they to danger
from bombardment by the German
heavies or from bombs dropped by a
stray German aeroplane. In fact, So
close to the actual fighting front are
these lines that most OF the really ad :
vanced work has to be done under COW
err Of darkness.
Following Advance.
Following up the British advance
the railway men find bridges blown
away, roads obliterated and occasional
traps left by the enemy. Heavily ar
mored locomotives haul up the mate
rial. The right OF way ahead is
cleared. the huge craters made by Ger
man explosives filled, fresh bridges
thrown across the gap and in an In.
credibly short time here is n new route
ready to hand over to the railway oper.
ating department.
To lay a mile a day of this broad
gauge railway is not an uncommon
feat. Our best sustained record,
said4thc colonel in charge of one gang
sis * miles in five days., We hav.
just finished one stretch of line. WI
had first to build a bridge 40 fee
long. That was started on Friday ant
finished on Tuesday. Then we had II
clear the road beyond. which was lit
tered with German ties. torn rails ant
other material, We started at Or
Tuesday and had finished laying tn,
line by Wednesday night. We had co.
men clearing the road and $50 work,
ing on the stool actually laying thu
rails.
twenty-five miles of light railwa.
were put in the new territory at tn.
Ancrc river fight
These railway men do not even us,
cement in building the foundations fo
their bridges. Strong timber flunt
across is the only support. mo wait
ing for cement parapets here sale
the colonel. I'VE build the line a.
they build pioneer line In the west.
ri