Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-31
,"Autonnatic Train"
One of Wonders of
y
Yaak Organization

+ Correspondence Associated Pr<ss.1
American Regulating Base. Advance
Zone. France. Sept. 21.-The "auto-
matte train" is one Of the strange de-
vices which has sprung out of the war
and there Is nothing quite like it in
the whole range of railway transport
tation. 1t has been developed by the
American military authorities here as
one OF the necessities of keeping up an
automatic supply of food, forage and
all requirements to every unit of the
American expeditionary force in
France. To do this with unvarying
regularity each day, so that every
man in every division stretching over
vast area along 800 miles Of front.
would have his daily needs supplied
was a huge problem.
The only solution was to secure
absolute uniformity or standardized
ton of trains by which the makeup
would be automatic day after day.
And out of this has come the auto
matte train" of the American army.
which is one of the wonders of Amer
lean organization.
Watching the make up of the auto
matte trains" as they go forward to
the American divisions on the fighting
front is like watching some gigantic
jig-saw puzzle, for there is the same
fitting together of confused parts I'M
til at last all the pieces form COM
pleted whole of fifteen Of these So
called automatic trains" fifty cars to
a train. each train moving of to one
Of the american divisions.
Here at a small interior village OF
the American advance force is the
center from which the automatic
trains move out daily. The place is
well forward in the advance zone, just
far enough away from the fighting to
be out of reach Of hostile raids ana
yet near enough to permit the supplies
to move forward with the greatest
facility.
1t was sleepy village last October
with 1000 inhabitants. today it is a
center Of intense activity. with an
American working force of $4,000
eleven times the population year ago
with seventy-two miles Of yard
trackage, forty-five enormous ware
point Of the long front held wholly or
in part by American troops.
Last month $4,000 cars were moved
or over 1000 day in this stupendous
stream Of supplies going forward to
the fighting forces.
Colonel Hilgard, commanding officer.
and Captain Bigger. regulating officer,
explained the details Of these auto
matte trains and later there was an
opportunity to see the trains as
sembled like parts in a huge puzzle
and started on their way to the front.
The basis on which the automatic
trains are made up is as follows:
Two cars OF yrefrigerated fresh beef.
Two cars Of fresh bread.
Seven cars Of food comprised in the
soldiers rations.
Four cars Of fuel for cooking.
Fourteen cars Of forage for horses.
One car Of gasolene, mineral Oil ana
lubricants for motors. =
One car for mail and packages.
These are the fixed and practically
:nvari bio elements Of each automatic
train. .he same wants Of food and
forage being repeated day after day.
In addition each division has vary
ing wants of clothing, ammunition,
medical supplies, ETC.. as It may be IN
the midst Of the fighting or further
back in calmer section. These vary
ing clements are added 20 each train.
according to the needs Of the division.
Thus fifteen trains go out daily IN
fifteen directions, each train havins
some thirty to thirty Ave cars IN the
fixed and automatic makeup. and
some fifteen or twenty cars with the
varying elements examination. med
ical supplies, clothing, etc. Dependent
on the proximity to the fighting.