Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-09-06
Work At The Front For Engineers.

nv WIN "hiSu VIII OS dSNOibpilouSu
by American engineers in France, accord
ing TO engineer experts, will play an I'M
portant part in the winning OF the war.
II is pointed out that there will be work
in plenty for all The engineers available.
Engineers from this country will be active
in the rehabilitation OF the devastated
districts, they will reconstruct bridges,
repair reads and highways which are es-
sential for the expeditions handling OF
supplies and ammunition, and will per-
form various other services, many of
which will be within range OF The enemY's
guns.
Ithas been rumored that Major General
Goethals, who recently resigned as
manager of the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration, may head the work OF American
engineers in France. The work which
these men will perform is regarded as
important as the actual fighting. The
following statement relative TO operations,
projected and under way, 10 accommodate
American armies on their foreign expedi-
tionS, was authorized by the office OF the
chief engineer OF the army.
"The value OF railroad materials and
rolling stock alore. now being purchased
to provide in advance for the needs OF
the American army, is about five times
that OF all purchases made annually in
this country Tor the Panama Canal during
The last four or five years.
American engineers must undertake
large operations in the construction and
repair OF bridges in France. They must
repair and maintain the roads and high
ways over which our supplies will be
brought up 10 the battle line. Much OF
the latter work will be done within range
OF the enemy guns. To accomplish this
work, the same kind OF street and road
equipment as is used in Our leading Amer
lean cities will have TO be shipped to the
! front.
"Our engineers will equip the wharves
and piers in France utilized by American
forces with the terminal facilities required
by our armies. The lumber for this work
will be cut from European forests by
regiments OF American foresters. This
method will save burdening our ships
with lumber from the United States.
One regiment Of foresters is being organ
lied, and several more will be raised.
They will carry with them complete um-
bermen's outfits, including Sawmill
equipment.
"Experts will install electric plants,
which will furnish lights to the trenches,
dugouts, storehouses, etc. The power
houses will be dug in in such a way as
to protect them from shell fire. II is the
duty of the corps OF engineers 10 furnish
an adequate water supply for the large
bodies OF men suddenly placed in localities
where the entire water supply is already
needed for the small civilian population.
Our experts are already IN France, study
ingthis problem. Well-drivingapparatuS,
pipe and all necessary supplies will be
sent over. Settlements in which our
troops will stay will be piped, as is done
under an American city system.
"Material for extensive Standard-gauge
and nanow-gauge railroads will be sent
to Europe, TO enable the engineers to
carry out their task. The lines 10 be
built will both transport our troops to
the front and handle transportation behind
the firing line. The lines running up 10
the front will remove wounded and SAL
wage gathered from the field. Lines OF
this type are broad gauge, feeding nu-
merous narrow gauge spurs which radiate
from the main line, and accumulate sup
ply trains, often hauled by gasoline en-
eines. The engineers corps will carry
IFS own rolling stock 10 the theater OF
war. This, in itself, will be a gigantic
operation. Special mining companies
will be formed for the purpose OF carry
ing on the intricate operations involved
in modern trench warfare. For this work
expert miners will be chosen.
The engineers will 90 into the study
OF battle map making on large scale.
They will study this work under expert
British and French instructors, Who have
made specially OF the fields OF battle
since the war began. To determine the
position OF targets within the enemy's
lines by observations on flashes and
sound, will be included in their field work.
The present war has brought into being
a vast number OF appliances heretofore I'm
known. Battlefield illumination with
searchlights, trench lights, flares, star
bombs and rifle grenades will be handled
by our engineers. Appliances for this
work will be of American manufacture.
"Camouilage, the modern war art DIRE
ducing The visibility OF objects, must be
applied for the protection OF our troops,
artillery, ETC., in France, and our engin-
eers ere making this subject their special
study. Well-known artists and experts
in color effects will precede the engineers
and study out the problem OF ooscurlng
our operations from the enemy. The
actual work will be done by sign painters
and soldiers trained in the craft.
''The engineers will attend TO the con-
struction OF all buildings for the housing
of troops. They will build hospitals,
refrigerating plants, machine shops and
other structures incident 10 the care and
supply OF The army in France. Dredging
and other river and harbor Improvements
in this country is necessary war work
to be undertaken by the engineers. The |
opening OF waterways TO give freer play |
to the movement OF our troops, as well
as to relieve the congestion OF land traffic, |