Evening journal., 1918-08-02
engineers BUILD
new BRIDGES FAST
Restore Traffic Cut Off by
'Washouts Due to Heavy
Storm
CLEANUP AFTER
STORM DELUCE

CAMP DIX, Wrightstown, n. j., Aug
ARMY engineers came TO the aid OF
the civilian travelling public when the
bridge-huilding companies OF the 3i2th
Engineers, out for instruction work.
hastily spanned two big washouts from
yesterdays storm which had tempor-
srily closed the Wrigstown-Pointville
county road. Much crOss-State auto
trafllc had been tied up since the
bridges went out and army officers
agreed to permit the spans, which re-
qulred the full set OF construction tim
bers used by the brldge-builders. to re-
main for two days. which will give the
county time TO begin the construction
Of permanent new bridges.
Evidences of the storm within the
camp are rapidly being removed under
direction OF the engineers. A big wash
out in one OF the main highways was
quickly repaired. Drainage bitches that
were filled with silt by the food are
being opened and new bitches con-
structed. The fact that with thousands
OF men living under tents. none OF
these men suffered inconvenience from
having their tents flooded indicates the
skill with which the drainage system
. Of the camp was constructed.
Camp Dix now has its second pioneer
regiment, the sO7th Colored lnfsnay
organizing here under Colonel Carey,
having been designated for this branch
OF the service. Delaware men compose
the 59th Pioneer Infantry, which has
been training here for several months
following earlier training at Camp Nc
Clellan and now awaiting orders Tor
overseas service. The Pioneers form
new branch OF the American army. One
regiment will be attached to each army
corps and the mobility Of the organlza-
tion Will make it possible to use details
OF any size for any duties TO which they
may be assigned In a critical period OF
a battle. The Pioneers will also aid In
maintaining lines OF communication De
tween army corps.
The Importance which gas Is playing
in the present battle Of the Marne is
reflected in Camp Dix by more intensive
instruction in defensive methods. prac-
tfcally every soldier in camp now get
ting a gas mask drill daily, while at
the rate Of nearly 800 a day trained
men OF the s7th Division are passing
through the gas chambers, the dig
thrill" in gas defensive work, where
the soldiers are subjected for an hour
20 the deadly fumes OF chlorine. Ihese
tests. incidentally, are proving that tle
new American gas masks are the DesI
protective devices that have yet appear
ed on the bsttlenelds. ,- =
Every man in the s7th Division is
reo,iired 10 take the, gas mask drills.
Major General Sturgis and oncers oI
bis staff can now don the masks as
quickly as the men In the ranks anu
they will take the same test IN the go
chambers next week. The facllltles 10.
the final tests have been 'quadrupleu
bv the construction Of four Dig gas
chambers in a large barn on the reseI-
vation. Two Of the chambers are hood
cd with deadly chlorine gas. Into the
others. in which tear gas is used, the
soldiers enter without masks In order
that they may learn to recognize tne
tear gas which Is colorless, and apply
their masks in time 10 prevent serious
injury The soldiers remain exposed 20
tbe gas only long enough to sense lls
nresence and the only distressing enect'I
- ,be hrief bath" Is that their eyes
are likely TO weep uncOntrollaDly ior
an hour or more afterwards.
The camp is doing It's share toward
gliding Uncle sam 10 give the Kaiser
bie dose CT his own medicine ana To-
dav sent a picked detail Of enlisted men
fo the Gas Offensive Division, Chemical
Warfare Service, at Edgewood Arsenal,
Maryland. -