New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-07-26

turn ticket at singlc-rate fare
/ France is no less liberal
| Transportation is provided FREE
both ways for men going on furlougl
| from the front
Col. COllardet, assistant military at
| tache at the French Embassy. advise,
me while
soldiers and sailors, travelling on fur.
| louSh or leave from garrison towns
are enjoying a reduction of three.
| fourths of the fare on all the French
| railroads.
The Government of the Dominion
| OIL canada, I am advised by Lieut.
| Col. r.. E. Clarke, director general of
supplies and transportation for the
| department of militia and defense of
| the Dominion, allows two classes. of
| reduced rates, one for Is days. one
Tor so days, to men on leave. A re-
turn journey. in short to a camp or
ship is allowed to soldiers and sail
ors in uniform upon payment of the
ordinary first class one-way fare.
Italy's plan is one which should be
studied, particularly as the railroads
there are run by the Governm as
ours are now.
Maj. Gen. Emilio Guglielmotti, of
the Italian Embassy. has favored me
with q very complete resume of
Italy's program along this line:
The war administration in Italy
He states
is obliged to pay to the railroad ad-
ministration the price established for
every Transports ton. During the
war there has been established
special system of compensation called
r.,
studies made in peace time in regard
to mobilization Of troops. u train
called "Ereno-Tipo" STANDARD train)
has been established, composed of
cars representing the general aver
age Of trains studied in peace time.
The cost of running such trains
for fixed mileage is ascertained,
and the Government then keeps ac-
count Of the number of trains so run,
and multiplies the cost of the stand
ard train by the number used in a
day The military unit merely pre-
sents at the station the document Or
dering the transportation.
Having thus provided for transport
tation in common, the war admins
tration had to study the transported
ton Of individuals, and the problem
was easily solved by adding u few
more cars to the standard train and
increasing in proportion the price to
be paid for every train to the rail-
road administration. Free transport
tation is allowed to militaireS who
have been granted q furlough for
convalescence or for reward, or the
periodical ordinary Through which is
granted to the troops at the front,
and also to all isolated militaires
travelling for service.
In every other case, and especially
when the militaire travels alone for
personal business, he is obliged to
pay his transportation at the special
reduced tariff existing in Italy, which
corresponds to q reduction on the
ordinary fare of 70 per cent, there
fore paying only 80 per cent Of the
full price. The nilitaire travelling
alone on leave of absence or furlough
has a document in which is specified
the object of the furlough, thereby
enabling the railroad employees to
know whether or not the bearer is
entitled to free transportation.
Not only does Italy thus take care
men in the active service, but Gen.
Gen. Guglielmotti adds that
the personnel of the Red Cross of
o. Sovereign Order of Malta, the nuns,
the nurses, and, generally speaking,
all persons associated with the mill
taire because of their duties at the
front have the same rights when
as the militaire themselves
This suggests that even in our own
country, when so many men and wo-
men are devoting all their time to
Red Cross, to the knights of Column
bus, Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, and Young Mems Hebrew Asso-
citation war work, and similar organ
cations, we could we'll show our ap-
probation of their efforts at least in
granting them reduced railroad fare
for journeys necessary in their war
work Such organizations could, of |
course, be strictly limited by regula- |
lions.
Thus supported by public opinion |
the country, as we'll as |
by action of our strongest associates |
n the war, Great Britain, France, |
Canada, and Italy it was only nat /
lral that Chairman Sims, of the |
House Committee on Interstate and |
Foreign Comm cree, was prepared to !
call a special meeting Of the commit |
tee over which he presides, to report |
vorably on the subject
1t was with the feeling that end |
less delays had been discontinued, |
therefore, that ] received the news |
rom the office of the Director Gener- |
ii of Railroads that the following had |
been authorized:
Director General McAdoo, realizing !
hat the payment of the full railroad |
ARE means a serious hardship to our |
soldiers and sailors who desire to Wis |
t their homes before going overseas, |
has ordered that, as soon as neces- !
sary details can be completed, SOL |
iierS and sailors of, the United States |
'orces, when furloughed and travelling |
at their own expense will be granted |