The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-05-07
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
WASHINGTON. ID. G.

WNU Service, Union Trust Building
~ Washington, d. G.
Recently had to make seven con-
secutive weekend trips between
Washington and New York; left
Washington after a late Friday
broadcast and had to return Monday
for one at noon. Not once was
able to get reservations for the re-
turn trip. until at the last minute
when some unused space was turned
in.
II / groused a little too loudly
over this, it may have been because
didn't know then what I learned
officially only the other day; name
ly, that "if the war department in
sisted in having all the Pullman
equipment it could use, all the Pull
man cars of the country would be
carrying troops"
In other words, il Johnny Dough-
boy didn't step aside occasionally,
we'd all use coaches or walk.
Compromise
The present arrangement is said
to be compromise in recognition
of essential civilian needs. At pres
ent, million and three-quarter SOL
diers are being moved a month
that is $4,000 a day--in Americas
trains in official troop movements.
This does not include the many men
on leave.
There are, Of course, movements
of whole divisions with full equip
ment but these are the exceptions.
AS you have probably noticed if
you travel very much, there are usu-
ally few cars containing troops
attached to your passenger train.
This is the way most of the troops
are transported-in small groups Of
$50 or less. However, that is
considerable addition to the regular
passenger traffic.
It's said a soldier eats twice as
much as he did in civilian life and
that is one reason why food has to
be rationed to civilians. But he
travels lot more in proportion to
his normal civilian peregrinations.
Many a man saw his first big city
when he reached London or Cairo
or New Delhi I know a pilot who
dropped in at the airport here re-
Gently and had several hours wait
over. When he was asked why he
didn't cross the bridge and look
the capital over, he said he'd never
been in a big city and didn't want
to get lost. The next thing heard
from this particular was that he was
in Calcutta.
Average Number
In the last war, the average num-
Der of moves made by a soldier
were three. Here is list Of typical
moves he makes in this war, drawn
UP by the Office Of War Information:
l. To the induction center
2. To reception center
/ 8. To replacement training CEN
ter
4. To his particular branch Of
5. To big maneuvers
6. Return
z. To special training areas
/ 8. To port Of embarkation
Special studies are made to cut
! down unnecessary cross-hauling but
sudden developments abroad may
force soldiers who are located near
one port to be shifted to another far
away. Or a, special need for partic-
uIarized training may arise and that
may force men to be doubled back
to desert. or mountain for the spe-
/ cialized practice in snow or under
a. hot sun that new requirements
make necessary.
i, Maneuvers in the southeast and
i southwest, including the desert
training areas Of California, have
sometimes required the moving in Of
as many as 100000 men within a
few weeks, equipment and all. Nat
urally, that disrupted large part Of
passenger traffic for several weeks
j at time. te ....sh
| Unessenfial Travel
Efforts are being made to cut
down extra passenger travel by dis
couraging conventions, trade shows,
big sports contests and other gath
erings. One exception has been
made, and that is the lecturer. Even
the President saw fit to come out
with a statement encouraging the
continuation Of the work Of lecture
bureaus. He expressed himself to
Lowell Thomas, who travelled to
Washington, on that subject-the
nlea for a good word for the speak,