Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-08-29

SElTS United States secretary or war,
inspected them less than three
months ago, the work is fairly
1eaping forward the very landscape changes
overnight
every main phase and much of the detail of this
vast project. 1 return convinced that what the
Americans have accomplished since their first de-
tachment of troops landed in France IL months
ago will stand out in history of the great
est achievements of the The bearing of this
vast work upon the whole program is SUI
premely important. There is doubt in my
mind that the extent of it, the meaning of it and
the future possibilities of it should be made clear
TO the public both here and in the United States
1t Is well at the outset to state some basic
facts. The French had all their sources of supply
near at hand and the establishment of their lines
OF communication was comparatively simple
affair The British, with all their sources much
farther away from the fighting areas and with
water transport entering important factor
into their scheme had much more difficult task
in planning and perfecting their supply service.
But great the British problem, that
which confronted the Americans when they
tered the UNNECESSARILY greater. Their
armies and all their materials had to be
brought thousands of miles from their sources
of supply; the submarine campaign at its
highest point of efficiency; the adoption of the
convoy system considerably reduced the capacity
of shipping facilities, which. in the
favorable circumstances. would have been totally
inadequate to the demands made upon them
there were large modern ports the coast
of France; nor was there anything like sufficient
railway facilities to accommodate the vast stream
of men and materials which must flow steadily
in. with constantly increasing volume, from the
date when the first detachment of United States
soldiers landed French SOIL
At the time must realize that, from
the moment war was declared. America itself
rapidly resolving into huge engine war.
With raw materials industries, coal and railways,
NIL put quickly under government control and
each day becoming more centralized for the sole
purpose of multiplying the output of require
ments the pressure toward France increased with
startling rapfdIty, Indeed, 1T measured only
by the utmost limit of available shipping space.
That situation has continued right up the pres
ent. and will continue, matter how great the
output of new ships may be- for considerable
time to
To take of this steadily growing volume
of men. horses. guns. foods and supplies, to
solve the modest existing facilities into per-
manent line of communications hundred of miles
I'm length, adequate TO care for army of the
future numbering millions at the same time meet
Ing all the transport requirements of the civic
population scattered over the great stretch of
France through which these lines extended-that
was the task which confronted the first detach-
ment of American engineers who landed here IL
months ago.
But with all their difficulties the Americans had
substantial advantage the British. or
the French. They were able to profit by
the three years war experience of these two ma
lions and shape the details of considerable part
of their main program in accordance with the full
development of the British and French war ma
chinery. They were not slow to avail themselves
of this advantage. and the marvellous progress
they have made IS Que IN no small measure 10 me
: quickness with which they adapted and incor-
porated into their own scheme certain features of
organization which the British and French had
evolved through long period of actual warfare
The cordial way In which the British and French
transport and other officials received the Ameri-
cans and gave them every possible kind of aid
and advice is of the many bright chapters
in this story of achievement
This was the only substantial advantage the
Americans had Their handicaps were multifold.
their task colossal. How splendidIy they attacked
their problems and conquered one after another
the obstacles which confronted them stands
in clear perspective as one passes along their
great lines of communication today. Sixty days
more will the greater part of the whole vast
scheme in full operation Even now the COM
pleted part of the system Is equal to all demands
made upon it, and with labor and materials avail
able In fairly equable proportions. as they are
now the actual construction work Is going ahead
more rapidly than
What the American forces in France have ac-
compIished thus far is almost Incredible For in
stance. out of the waste lands adjacent to an old
F-r.srh rort they have constructed splendid line