Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-08-07
MANY CHANGES IN
Y BRI1AIN'S ARMY
CHANCE OF FAR REACHING CHAR.
ACTER HAVE TAKEN PLACE
SINCE BEGINNING OF WAR
lRy Associated Press.l

july The British Army
has undergone changes of a far-reaching
character since the outbreak of war in
1914, and IL now possesses many branch
e. unheard Of IN pre-war days. Every
resource afforded by the manifold capa-
city of this great Industrial community
has been harn,>eed To the war chariot
SAYS a British statement from official
sources.
There are certain respects in which the
problem by which the British Army \
faced j. unique; and one of the most strik-
ing of these j. that il must be capable Of
campaigning in any part OF the world
and in any climate. In the ease OF armies
like that of Germany, ON the other hand.
the problem of preparation Tor war was
relatively simple. The ground on which
1t was an army designed To do battle IN a
particular theatre-Europe. In con~e-
quence everything could be, and was
planned along certain well-defined lines.
In the present war the importance Of
field works was apparent al 4 very early
~At-t. panty 'NihF ~ h''N' '''
and partly To the confirmed entrenchin
habit of the Germans. One of the cardi-
nal instructions given by the German Com
manders 10 their troops ON FIRST invading
France and Belgium wa>-"make trenches
everywhere In fact all the Continental
powers had in addition Ia their corps of
engineers, very large numbers OF trained
pioneers, organized III hattaiioo>, and
suitable for use either a. fighting troops
or in IN. construction and maintenance OF
field works and communications. The
absolute importance Of the la~t-named
can perhaps only be realized by one who
has seen the roads during an advance.
But while the Continent was To This cX-
tent prepared Tor trench warfare, a was
natural IN the circumstances, II was 9TH
erwiSe with Great Britain. In the British
Service only the Indian Army possessed
pioneer regiments, these troops being al
WAYS necessary in conducting campaign
in the hill country. When the need i"r
this class Of troops became evident steps
were taken 10 form pioneer battaiions Tor
the expcditionary force. From the iir~.
they proved their value.
Pioneers are prepared 10 fight or work
a, may be required. They perform such
service a. the construction and repair q
| and dug-oui~, the digging of trenches and
wiring. Their duties are manifold, and
there i no form of usefulness ut the front
which the pioneer does not NJ one time On
another find himself called upon 10 under
take. His activities range from carrying
up ammunition to retrieving the wounded
or holding a iierceIy disputed trench on.
sap.
In the great advances on the Somme
and in Artoi, the pioneer performs work
at tho greatest Importance. The duty 81
connecting il up with the old front line OF
the attackers. largely fell to them In.
many places they took part IN the advance
a. infantry, in others they kept the advan
| cling line supplied with ammunition and
| water, and beat off countcr-attack>. Their
lo~Se, have been heavy, hut they have ac-
compli~hed their tasks in the face 81:
every obstacle.
A. a rule. the pioneers remain IN the
| vicinity II the trenches aI the time their
IN J., in the line, and do not not 60
back for rest, except nj long intervals.
The pioneer j. a. yet a new type IN 10
British Army. but he has long since pas
sed the trial stage. and has proved his
worth and stedfa~tEe~~. Ills metal has
worth and steadfasntess. His metal has
very thoroughly il has stood the test.