The Washington herald., 1917-03-23
Army and Navy News
nest sefviee Column in Cifx.

To a warring nation transportation fa-
cilities rank second In Importance only
to the lighting units. Are the great rail-
road systems of the United States. still
struggling with congestion of CONNER
cial freight, prepared to assume the adj
ditional burden of moving troops. muni-
tions and supplies incident to the MAIN
tanning Of an army on a war footing?
oficials Of the American Railway AS
ISOLATION stoutly contend that they could
mobilize any number of troops that the
Government might call to the colors. and
at the same time conduct the customary
transportation business OF the country
without material interruption.
When the advisory commission TO the
Council OF National Defense was created,
Daniel willard, president OF the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad and one OF the
most experienced and capable railroad
executives in the country, was made
chairman. At the instance of Mr.. Will
lard, the American Railway Association,
embracing all the great railway systems
of the nation, appointed a special COM
mittee on national defense, of which
Fairfax Harrison. the president of the
Southern Railway Company, was made
chairman.
Railroads Advised of Duties.
been mobilizing the transportation ia
cilities so necessary in case the United
States should go to war. George
Hodges, a member OF this special COM
mittee. said yesterday that already every
railroad in the country has been advised
of what would be expected of it in case
OF war. and arrangements have been
made to care for the transportation OF
troops and supplies.
urae
the mobilization OF the armed forces
that might be raised would not inter-
fere with the movement of commercial
freight. Mr.. Hodges probably has a clear
er conception of the freight situation
and other transportation problems con-
fronting the railroads than any other
man in the country, for, besides being
member OF the special defense COM
mittee. he is secretary Of the car service
commission organized by the American
Railway Association to untangle the con-
geston that for months curtaiIed freight
movements
For the movement Of troops the rail-
ways Of the United States have 60, OOC
passenger coaches, capable Of CARRYING
without crowding 50 persons each; there
are also 900 tourist coaches. with cana
city to move 220O0 men, and 5000 Pull
man coaches, each carrying Is individuals.
~ o1hci "OTuS, JneTe are in commits
sion in the United States passenger
carrying cars capable OF moving s,3oooO
Use Box Cars II Necessary.
The United States army in the past has
moved It's men in passenger coaches, but
II occasion should arise that would over
tax the cars equipped for such service
the railroads are prepared to press into
service box cars. Mr.. Hodges SAYS that
survey already has been made TO de-
termlne what materials are necessary for
the conversion of box cars for such serv-
ice.
An army. as Napoleon was quoted as
saying. lives on its stomach There must
be food and munitions to maintain it,
The railroads are prepared to transport
these supplies. The railroads own :. 500 Oo0
freight cars, of which approximately
10000 are box cars and the remainder
open cars. There are in addition 200 900
cars owned privately by the great meat
packing and such other industries These
could be commandeered If there were
need for them.
Transportation of the men to the points
at which they would join their regiments
would be carried on by the regular pas
senger service of the several roads The
hauling of regiments to mobilization
points and the transfer from State
mobilization points to the camps that
would be established under the direction
of the War Department would be the