The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-06
BRITISH ARMY HAS
CHANGED MUCH
Now Possesses Many Branches Which
Were Unheard of Prior to the War
--Adaptability of the Men Is
One Important Feature.

London, Aug. 6 Correspondence, -
The British army has undergone changes
of farreaching character since the out
sesses many branches unheard of in pre-
war days. Every resource afforded by
the manifold capacity of this great in
dustrial community has been harnessed
to the war chariot, says British state
ment from official sources.
There are certain respects in which the
problem by which the British army is
faced is unique; and one of the most
striking of these is that il must be ca
pable of campaigning in any part of the
world and in any climate. In the case of
armies like that of Germany, on the
other hand, the problem of preparation
for war was relatively simple. The
ground on which the army was destined
to fight was known; it was an army de-
signed to do battle in particular thea
tre-Europe. In consequence everything
could be, and was, planned along GER
tain well-defned lines.
In the present war the Importance of
field works was apparent at very early
stage, partly owing to modern artillery
and partly to the confirmed entrenching
habit of the Germans. One of the cardi
nal instructions given by the German
commanders to their troops on first in
vading France and Belgium was make
trenches everywhere" In fact all the
continental powers had in addition to
their corps of engineers very large num-
bers of trained pioneers, organized in
battalions and suitable for use either as |
fighting troops or in the construction
and maintenance of field works and COM
The absolute Importance |
of the last named can perhaps only be
realized by one who has seen the roads
during an advance.
But, while the continent was to this
extent prepared for trench warfare, as
was natural in the circumstances, it was
otherwise with Great Britain. In the |,
British service only the Indian army pos
'essed pioneer regiments, these troops
in the hill country. When the
reed for this class of troops became evil
lent steps were taken to form pioneer
,attalions for the expeditionary force.
from the first they proved their value.
Pioneers are prepared to fight or work,
Is may be required. They perform such
ervices as the construction of repair of
trenches, fire trenches
md dugouts, the digging of trenches and
wiring. Their duties are manifold, and
here is no form of usefulness at the
ront which the pioneer does not at one
o undertake. His activities range from
arriving up ammunition to retrieving the
rounded or holding fiercely disputed
rench or sap
In the great advances on the Somme
nd in Artois the pioneers performed
FORK of the greatest Importance, The Z
uty of consolidating the captured
round and connecting it up with the
Id front line of the attackers, largely I
III to them. In many places they took
art in the advance as infantry, in Others
1ey kept the advancing lines supplied
it'll ammunition and water, and beat :
n counter attacks. Their losses have X
zen heavy, but they have accomplished N
leir tasks in the face of every obstacle.
As rule, the pioneers remain in the q
cinity of the trenches all the time their
vision is in the line, and do not go back L
n rest, except at long intervals. N
The pioneer is as yet new type in y
lie British army, but he has long since II
lssed the trial stage, and has proved A
5 worth and steadfastness His metal
Is been tried in the crucible of war and
'ry thoroughly it has stood the test. so