Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-30
U. s. HAD BIG PART.
American Engineers Build Railroads
For Byne's Advance.

by lie ASSOClet lcu TTeSS'1
British Army Headquarters In
France, Nov. Delayed1-Americar
engineers, the first American troops tc
be engaged in military operations on
the British front, took prominent
part in the breaking Of the Hindenburg
line last week.
1t Is now possible to inform the peo-
pie Of the United States that engineers
of the American army had large part
IN pushing up the vital railways behind
the advancing British soldiers.
As matter Of fact the American
engineers have been laboring on the
roads thru the devastated battle fields
OF the Somme district for nearly four
months. and two Of their men. who
were wounded, were the first American
casualties announced from. Washington
Call Forth High Praise.
The speed with which the lines have
been laid thru the Hindenburg d.
fenses has called forth the highest
praise from the British authorities.
The Americans have been working
In shifts twentyfour hours a day and
no such amount Of track has been
laid in this region in so short time
before.
The manner in which they stood up
under the strain has led them to be
dubbed "the force of American athle-
tes." For these untiring soldiers to-
day are as fit and as willing as they
were before the battle began. Naturally
the Americans have for long time
been working under the range OF
enemy artillery and more than once
they have come under heavy shell fire.
One Of the most striking sights along
the front has been the engineers work.
Ing coolly at their tracks while great
shells were bursting hundred yards
away. At one time the Germans cut
loose with their guns on a section Of
the tracks and tore up three miles Of
rails which had been laid with much
labor but they scarcely had finished
this bombardment when the twin lines
Of steel began to creep forward once
more.
Niaht work necessary.
After the workers reached a point
where they were exposed on the sky
line 1t was necessary to work at night
or on foggy days to avoid enemy OBJ
se-avtion.
There have been three forces Of
Americans employed In this region
since about Oug. i. Two. OF them have
been occupied with the operation and
maintance OF light railways and the
other has been constructing narrow
gauge lines. The Importance Of this
work hardly needs emphasis for it Is
we'll known that over these railways
vo1c oF oil
sorts are rushed up to lend support to
the fighting forces.
Fit and Eager For Work.
The correspondent has visited many
OF these engineers since their arrival
and has found them as At as possible
and eager for work. Most Of them look
forward to the time when they will be
able to join the American forces, but
Just now they are content to do their
bit here and learn valuable lessons in
military railroading.
The correspondent was talking with
three officers today and the only an
xiety they expressed about the future
was the fear that they might be COM
PEELED to work back of the lines out of
the fighting zone. The engineers loved
to hear the guns and to get as close to
the fighting line as military ordens per-
NIT. Some OF them had an unusual
experience. much to their liking. Tho
British called for volunteer stretcher
bearers to 90 forward to the battlefield
and bring in wounded British. A large
number OF engineers offered their ser"
vices, which were accepted.
They had just finished hard days
work on the railroads but they labored
thru the night getting injured soldiers
back to the dressing stations. They
were highly cornplimented by the Bri-
tish for their work.