Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-28

WASHINGTON, May 26.-A new
banner has been designed TO accom-
pany the Stars and Stripes to France.
1t bears white pine tree shield en-
circicd by thirteen white stars on n
deep blue ground. 1t will be the rcgi-
mental banner of one of the ten on
Etnccr regiments who will be the frs [
troops sent TO Europc--the flag OF tn Q
forcsters' regiment. or, as the Forest
Service would like TO see them called,
the Forest Engineers.
The white shield on this banner is
the shield Of the Forest Service. and
arrangements for sclccting and or
gan'zinG the regiment are largely in
service hands. But the Forest En-
gincers Will not be drawn exclusively.
or even principally. from the ranks OF
the Forest Service. Like the other
engineer regiments. this body will be
raised by volunteering among men al
ready trained to the work
That Is why the Forest Service pre :
fers the name Forest Engineers. The
regiment will number among its Of
ficers a sufficient quota of train ed
forestcrs, but Its ranks will he nlled
with practical woodsmcn--lumbcr
jacks. sawyers. fellcrs. broad-a xmcu.
drivers OF logging teams, and men of
all the other trades allied to the pra C.
teal business OF lumberlnS The reci
ment will thus be All engineer r,r .
use OF the term. 1t will have the
standard organization of an engineer
regiment. with two battalions instead
OF the three OF the infantry, and air
companies of $50 men each. It's net
strength. including officers vii, he
about 1000 men.
The announcement that a forestry
regiment was TO be raised gave rise
TO considerable comment and spncu
lation all over the country a great
many people had no clear idea as to
what forestry regiment implied mr.
what II Is supposed to do. There was
even some doubt expressed ms 10 i,s
importance compared with other troons
that might be raised. AS q matter or
fact. no more useful body or men could
be sent to France, and none that arc
more badly needed II is matter
OF common knowledge that tho a..
cision to include a forestry regimen,
among The engineers was the result
OF a direct suggestion TO this effect
from the British commission.
Work Is Of Great Importance
The work OF forcsters and skilled
lumbermen has assumed an entirely
new Importance in the present war.
The demands for lumber from the
armies are incessant and enormous
Lumber is needed for trench building
Tor the construction of warehouses;
sheds and shelters. and for the rep,ir
and building OF railroads As the
armies OF the allies advance, the net
work OF railway lines must he kent
continually pushed up To the changing
front. 1t is 10 help build and onerate
these lines that the engineers are be.
ing sent. and the work OF the Fores.
Engineers Will be an essential part OF
the service.
The Forest Engineers will proba bly
be organized into several portable saw
mill companies These sawmills will
be set up at the most convenient no int
and the regular operations OF lumber
ing VIII be gotten under way Fcl!ers
VIII cut the trees. transfers Will snake
the logs 10 the mills. sawycrs will
cut them into plankine, motor trucks
viii haul the lumber TO the points
where it is needed. Railroad ties will
probably be hewcd directly from the
log by men skilled in the use Of tho
broad-aH. The organization will prob
ably also include number OF motor
cycle men for messenger service
When suitable timber has been de-
pleted in one locality. or when a
change in the military situation brings
about changed problems in distribu-
ton, the mill can be picked up bodily
and moved to new site.
This method Of operation has been
found most effective by all tho bellig-
crcnts. Probably the Germans were