New Britain herald., 1917-08-07
PIONEERS NEW TO
 BRITAIN'S ARMY
Utility Men Can Dig, Repair or
 Fight in Advance

London, July 2S Correspondence The British Army has undergone changes of a far-reaching character since the outbreak of war in 1914. and it now possesses many branches unheard of ill pre-war days. Every resources afforded by the manifold ca pacity of this great industrial com munity has been barnessed to the war chariot, says a British statement 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 1t must be capable of campaigning in any part of the world and in any cli- mate. 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 designed to do battle in particular theater- Europe. In consequence everything could be, and was, planned along cer- tain we'll defined lines.
 In the present war the importance of field works was apparent at a very early stage, partly owing to modern artillery and party to the confirmed entrenching habit of the Germans. One of the cardinal instructions giv- en by the German commanders to their troops on first invading France and Belgium was-"make trenches everywhere" In fact all the conti- mental powers had, in addition to their corps of engineers. large num- bers of trained pioneers, organized in battalions, and suitable for use either as fighting troops or in the con- struction and maintenance of field works and communications. The ab- solute importance of the ashamed can perhaps only be realized by one who has seen the roads during an ad- vance
 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 possessed pioneer regiments, these troops being always necessary in conducting campaigns in the hill When the need for this class of troops became evident steps were taken to form pioneer battalions for the expeditionary force. From the first they proved their value.
 Pioneers Fight or Work.
 Pioneers are prepared to fight or work as may be required. They per 'orm such services as the construction i md repair of communication 1; trenches, f1re-trenches and dug-outs, l J,o 1f Their duties are manifold, and there | S no form of usefulness at the front | which the pioneer does not at one time or another find himself called upon to His activities range from up ammunition to retrieving the wounded or holding a fiercely dis puted trench or sap.
 In the great advances on the Somme and in Artois the pioneers performed work of the greatest importance. 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 line supplied with ammunition and water, and beat off counter attacks. Their losses have been heavy but they have accomplished their tasks in the face of every obstacle.
 As 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 a new type in the British Army, but he has long since passed the trial stage, and has proved his worth and stedfastness. His metal, has been tried in the cru cible of war and very thoroughly it has stood the test.