Evening star., 1945-06-17
u. S. Transport Facilities
Facing Tremendous Task
Railroads Are Unable
to Move Both Troops
and Civilians
By Col. J. Monroe johnson,
Director, ONCE of Defense Transportation.
written for the Associated Press)

BY Col. J. Monroe Johnson,
Director, Office of Defense Transportation.
written for the Associated Press)
This year the Nations TRANSFORMATION
system will be engaged in the most tre-
mendous military movement in all his
tory. The redeployment of vic
torious army of over three million men
from Europe, more than halfway
around the world to within striking
distance of the Japs. Nearly four years
were spent in assembling this army in
Europe. Only 10 short months have
been allowed to complete the move to
the Pacific.
II every man, woman and child in
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, De-
troit, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Pittsburgh
and Boston, and in addition, the popula-
ton of the entire State of Wisconsin
each decided to take long railroad
trip, the 2O,000,00O trips would compare
with the number involved in the re-
deployment of our troops. The troop
movements of Napoleon, Hannibal and
Alexander the Great, which won them
legendary fame, were by comparison but
casual evening strolls.
For the secondhand we hope the last
year, the Office of Defense Trans
portation finds it necessary to ask the
American public to vacation at home
The need for the general public to keep
off trains and intercity buses this year
is even more urgent than it was in 1914.
Much Essential Travel.
If the redeployment program were
the only task to be faced by transporta-
ton this year, it would keep us very
busy. But it is only one of many jobs
to be done. Millions of soldiers, sailors,
Marines and Coast Guardsmen, sta
toned in the United States, must be
provided transportation. Many thou
sands of imported laborers, as well as
some 350,000 enemy prisoners of war
must be moved. A. large amount of
essential travel arising out of the re-
conversion program must be handled
And in addition to all of this is a
staggering burden of freight both war
and civilian, which must be moved
The fourth consecutive bumper grain
crop must be hauled from the West
to the consuming areas in the East,
much of it to be shipped abroad to the
hungry people of liberated Europe. Un-
til fighting in Europe ceased only a
minor portion of our huge war pro-
duction went to the Pacific. Now all of
it is flowing westward. All transpor-
tation facilities-North, South, East and
West-will be taxed far beyond their
normal capacities.
The job ahead for transportation
would not be easy even if we had con-
siderably more equipment than is
available today. Actually, we have far
less passenger cars, locomotives, freight
cars and personnel than We had bach
in the days of World War I.
Can't Do Both Jobs.
1t is obvious that our present trans
portation equipment cannot do its war
job and also carry the many civilians
who would like to travel. Already half
of our Pullman cars and nearly third
of our passenger coaches are in con-
slant military service. An even greater
proportion is now necessary for mill
tary movement. These additional cars
will have to come from the already
limited civilian supply
Many passenger trains will be cut
down in length. the cars saved going
into military service. Some trains will
be Cancelled entirely. Already, more
than so trains have been Cancelled,
and this year no seasonal trains will
operate to resort areas. Furthermore,
there is no guarantee that traveller
can get to or from his destination
within any given time. All facilities
which will operate will be crowded be-
yond normal capacity. From prac-
tical standpoint, the public can have
far more enjoyable and beneficial
vacation if train and intercity bus
travel is avoided completely and the
vacation period is spent at home