The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-08-23


icapins forward; the very landscape changes
overnight.
After two solid weeks of travel inspecting
every main phase and much of the detail of this
vast project l return convinced that what the
Americans have accomplished since their first de-
tachment OF troops landed in France II months
ago viii stand out in history as one of the great
est achievements of the The bearing of this
vast work upon the whole program is su-
premely important There is no doubt in nv
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
IactS. The French had all their sources Of supply
fear at hand, and the establishment of their lines
of communication was a comparatively simple
affair. The British, with all their sources much
further away from the fighting areas and with
water transport entering rs an important factor
tnto their scheme, had much more difficult task
IN planning and perfecting their supply service
But great as was the British problem, that
which confronted the Americans when they
tered the war was immeasuraby greater. Their
armies and all their materials had to be
brought thousands of miles from their sources
of supply; the submarine campaign was at its
highest point of efficiency; the adoption of the
convoy system considerably reduced the capacity
of shipping facilities, which. even in the most
favorable circumstances, would have been totally
Gnadequate to the demands made upon them;
of France; nor was there anything like sufficient
railway facilities to accommodate the vast stream
of men and materials which must flow steadily
I'm, 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 declared, America itself
was rapidly resolving into huge engine of war;
With Materials industries coal and railways
all put quickly under government control and
each day becoming more centralized for the sole
purpose of multiplying the output of war require
mcnts. the pressure toward France increased with
startling rapidity; indeed it was measured only
by The utmost limit of available shipping space.
That situation has continued right up to the pres
,ent and will continue. no matter how great the
output of new ships may be. for a considerable
time To come
To take care of this steadily growing volume
of men, horses. guns, foods and supplies to re-
solve the modest existing facilities into a per-
manent line of communications hundred of miles
in length, adequate TO care for an army OF the
future numbering millions, at the same time meet
ing all the transport requirements of the civic
population scattered 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
one substantial advantage over the British, or
the French. They were aDie 10 proHt ny
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
.cbncrv They were not slow to avail themselves
If this advantage, and the marvellous progress
they have made is due in no small measure to the
ouickness with which they adapted and incor-
-poratcd into their scheme certain features OF
organization which the British and French had
evolved through a long period of actual warfare.
The cordial way in which the British and French
etronsport and other officials received the Amerl-
.cans and gave them every possible kind of aid
and ndvice is one of the many bright chapters
in this story of achievement.
This was the only substantial advantage the
Americans had. Their handcaps were multltold'
their task colossal How splendidly they attacked
their problems and conquered one after another
.of the obstacles which confronted them STANDS
out in clear perspective as one passes along their
preot lines of communication today. Sixty days
moro will see the greater part of the whole vast
scheme In full operation. Even now the com
rIeted mart of the system is equal To all demands
made upon it, and with labor and materials avail
able in fairly equabe proportions, as they are
nov the actual construction work Is going ahead
more rapidly than ever
What the American forces in France have ac-
-complished thus far is almost incredible. For IN
st,rcc ont of the waste lands adjacent 10 an old
Ftnncl, port they have constructed splendid !ine