Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-08-29

nm HI SNliS Ett'S "tN''N'
NN&AMt' Since Mr.. Newton D.. Baker, the
WY~ United States secretary OF war,
~ inspected them less than three
months ago, the work Is fairly
!eaping 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, / return convinced that what the
Americans have accomplished since their first de-
tachruent of troops landed In France II months
ago viii 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.
prenely important. There is no doubt In my
mind that the extent of it, the meaning Of 1t and
the future possibilities Of it should be made clear
to the public, both here and In the United States.
Ii II well ut the outset to state some basic
facts. The French had Nil 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 ms an important factor
into heir scheme, had a much more difficult task
IN planning and rerfecting their supply service.
Blu, great Us was the British problem, that
which confronted the Americans when they en-
tered the war was UNNECESSARILY greater. Iheir
armies and all their war materials had to be
OruuHht tHpuSslHuS VI Hiiito ave.
Of supply; the ubmarinc campaign was at IFS
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 totaHy
Inadequate to the demands made upon 'heH'
there were no large modern ports on the coast
Of France: nor was there anything Ike suhlcleht
railway facilities to the VAST streahi
Of men and materials which must flow steadiiy
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 itseiL
was rapidly resolving into 4 huge engine OF war.
With raw materials, industries. coal and railways,
all nut quickly under government control ana
each tay becoming more centralized FOR the sole
purpose Of multiplying the output OF war require
ments, the pressure toward France Increased win
startling rapidity; indeed, 1t 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 now great the
output Of new ships may be, for q considerao'e
time to come.
To take care Of this steadily growing Vo'u"e
of men. horses, guns, foods and supplies, 10 re-
solve tho modest existing facilities into n 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 e'''.
POPULATION scattered over the great stretch VI
France through which these lines extended-tha
was the task which confronted the frst detacn.
ment OF American engineers who landed mere IL
months ago. .,
But with all their difficulties the Americans hao
one substantial advantage over the BRUSH, -
even tho French. They were able to pront D!
~ 49,. .1~~c, ,s,oy oyroripNrp OF THESE lWO uu
tons md shane the details Of a considerable par
Of their main program In accordance with te iu'
deye,onment OF the British and French war lba
chinerv. They were not slow to avail themse''e
Of this advantage, and the marvellous P'os'.'
thew have made Is due In no small measure 10 I'd
1uickncss with which they adapted ana mcol
poruted into their own scheme certain features U
organization which the British and French hu
evolved through a long period OF actuaI "u'iu''
The cordial way In which the British nno freuc
trnnsport md other officials received the Amer
cans and raye them every possible kind OF oil
and advice Il one Of the many bright chapte'
In this story Of achievement. !.
This was tho only substantial advantage I.
Americans had. Their handicaps we're mu!t'io'
their task colossal. How splendIdly they at'a.x'
their problems and conquered one nfter ANU"
Of the obstacles which confronted them SUM
out In clear irrespective as one passes along Wv
great lines Of communication today. Sixty da'
- more will see the greater part Of the wnole va
scheme In full operation. Even now tne so'
pleted part Of the system Ia equal to all aeman
made upon II, and with labor and. materials aVu
able III fairly cquable proportions. a. .hes :
now, the actual construction WORK ID so'ns ""e
more rapidly than ever.
What the American forces 70 France nave
complishsd thus far 10 almost incredlole' ~.
stance. out n the wsste lands adjacent to an
French port they have constructed q sp'eno'd |"