The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-08-23

~ HE Americans In France are rap
idly pushing to completion the
@Jl longest and in many respects
the greatest scheme Of commun-
" cations ever used in warfare.
11A trip over these lines today is a
W1W deeply impressive experience.
N/k Since Mr.. Newton d. Baker. the
XH United States secretary Of war.
inspected them less than three
months ago. the work is fairly
leapinR 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 I return convinced that what the
Americans have accomplished since their first de-
tachment of troops landed In France II 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 su-
premey important There is no doubt IN my
mind that the extent Of It, the meaning of 1t and
the future possibilities of 1t should be made clear
to the public, both here and in the United States
It is we'll at the outset to state 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 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 immeasurably greater. Their
armies and all their war materials had to BE-
brought thousands Of miles from their sources
Of supply; the submarine campaign was at It's
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
Inadequate to the demands made upon them;
there were large modern ports on the coast
Of France; nor was there anything like sufhcient
railway facilities to accommodate the vast stream
Of men and materials which must now steadily
IN. with constantly increasing volume. from the
date when the hrst detachment Of United States
soldiers landed French soil.
At the same time one must realize that from
the moment war was declared. America itself
was rapidly resolving into huge engine OF war
With raw materials Industries. coal and reilwayA
ell 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 rapidity; Indeed, 1t was measured only
BY the utmost limit Of available shipping space.
That situation has continued right up to the pres
snt and will continue, NO matter how great the
output Of new ships may be- for considerable
1me 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 per
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
populatoo scattered over the great stretch of
France through which these lines extended-0at
was the task which confronted the nrst detach-
ment Of American engineers who landed here IL
months ago.
But with all their difficulties the Americans mao
one substantial advantage over the bruA. :"
even the French. They were able 70 prone "
the three years. war experience OF these TWO na-
tions and shape the details Of . considerable part
AZ their main program In accordance with tn full
DEVELOPMENT OF the British and French war ma
eAinery. They were not slow to avail themselves
Of this advantage, and the marvellous proSress
they have made IL due In no small measure 10 tho
aulcknese with which they adapted ana incof-
porated into their own scheme certain features OF
organization which the British and French nad
evolved through a long period Of actual warfare
The cordial way in which the British ana frenca
transport and other officials received the Ameri-
cans and gave them every possible KIND OF aid
and advice II one of the many orieht chapterS
In tfl1s story Of achievement
This was the only substantial ADVANTAGE tne
Americans had. Their handcaps were muitiiou,
their task colossal. How splendidly tney a1'aeAeu
their problems and conquered one alter announcer
OF the obstacles which confronted them 0'anas
ont in clear perspective one passes along tneir
ereat lines Of communication today. sixty Gays
more will sse the greater part OF the "no'e vas'
scAsme in full operation Even now tne com
plstsd part Of the system 10 equal to all demands
made upon It, and with labor and mate'a.s avall'
able in fairly equable proportions. as tney are
now. the actual construction work II going ahead
more rapidly thsn svse.
What the American forces in France have &c
eumpaosnsd thus far b almost incredible. roe m
sfnnes. out q the waste lands adjacent to an oie
DssneA poFt they have constructsd Q spsendio "ns