The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-06
Army
HAS UNDERGONE
Many CHANGES
Now Possesses M any.
Branches That Were
Formerly Unheard OF
PIONEERS" HAVE
PROVED VALUE
Bring Up Supplies, Meet
Counter Attacks and
Dig Trenches

London, July Correspond
ence).-The British army has UNDER
gone changes of a far-reaching char
acter since the outbreak Of war in
1914, and it now possesses many
branches unheard of in prerwar days.
Every resource afforded by the,
manifold capacity of this great in
dustrial community has been har-
messed to the war chariot says a
British statement from official
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 1t.
must be capable 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; 1t was an army
designed to do battle in a particular
theatre-Europe. In consequence
everything could be, and was, plan
ned along certain, 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 cardinal Instructions CIV
en- by the German commanders to
their troops on first invading France
and Belgium waS-"make trenches
everywhere. In fact all the Con-
tinental powers had in addition to
their corps of engineers, very large
numbers of trained pioneers, organ
lied in battalions, and suitable for
use either as fighting troops or in the
construction and maintenance of. field
works and communications. The
absolute importance of the last
named can perhaps only be realized
by one who has seen the roads dur
ing an advance. &c.,. :
But, while the continent was to
this extent prepared for trench war
fare, as was natural in the circun1-
stances, it was otherwise with Great
Britain In the British service only
the Indian army possessed pioneer
regiments, these. troops being always
in the hill country. When the need
for this class Of troops became evil
dent steps were taken to form pio-
neer battalions for the expeditionary
force. From the first they proved
their value. -. 49,,
~ Fight or Work. %s,l
Pioneers are prepared to fight or
work as may be required. They per-
form such services as the .constrtc-
ton and repair of communication
trenches. fire-trenches and dug outs,
the digging of trenches and wiring.
Their duties are manifold, and there
is no form of usefulness at the front
which the pioneer does not at one
TINA nY- anofhar find hirnaalf ca1tad
upon to undertake. His activities
range from carrying up ammunition
to retrieving the wounded or holding
a fierceIy disputed trench or sap. 4
In the great advances, on the
Somme and in Artois the pioneers
performed work Of the greatest i'm
portance. The duty of consolidating
the captured ground and connecting
it up with the old front line of the
attackers, largely fell to them. In
many places they took part in the
advance as infantry, in others they
kept the advancing lines supplied
with ammunition and water, and
beat off counter-attacks. Their losses
have been heavy, but they have ac-
complished their tasks in the face of
every obstacle.
AS a rule, the pioneers remain in
the vicinity of the trenches all the
time their division is in the line, and
do not go back for rest, except at
long intervals.
The pioneer is as yet new type
in the British army, but he has long
since passed the trial stage, and has
proved his worth and steadfastness.
His metal has been tried in the
crucible of war and very thoroughly
It has stood the test.