The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-24

~ OhAtCu plulCo VI wall
@ inspected them less than three
months ago, the work is fairly
ieaping 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, 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 as one of the great
est achievements of the war. The bearing of this
vast work upon the whole war program is SUI
premely important. There is no doubt in nv
mind that the extent of 1t, the meaning Of it and
the future possibilities of 1t 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 a comparatively simple
affair. The British, with all their sources much
farther away from the fighting areas and with
water transport entering as an important factor
Into their scheme, had a 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 en-
tered the war was UNNECESSARILY greater. Their
armies and all their war materials had to be
brought thousands of miles from their sources
or 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
OAo NOulu LdNC lOlulIJ
inadequate to the demands made upon them;
there were no large modern ports on 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 on French soil.
At the same time one must realize that, from
the moment war was declared, America itself
was rapidly resolving into a huge engine of war.
With raw 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
ments, the pressure toward France increased with
startling r%apidity; 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 over the great stretch OF
France through which these lines ex~tended-that
was the task which confronted the first detach-
ment of American engineers who landed here IL
months ago.
AhI hANh III nv AAAAN NbN
one substantial advantage over the British. or
even the French. They were able to profit by
the three years war experience of these two ma
lions and shape the details of a 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 due in no small measure to the
uuickness with which they adapted and incor-
porated into their own 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
transport and other officials received the Ameri-
cans and gave them every possible kind Of aid
and advice is one 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 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
great lines OF communication today. Sixty days
more will see the greater part of the whole vast
scheme in full operation. Even now the COM
Melted part of the system is equal to all demands
made upon 1t, 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 ever.
What the American forces in France have ac-
complished thus far Is almost incredible. For In
stance. out of the waste lands adjacent to an old
Frecch port they have constructed a splendid line