RETIRING PROBLEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1918, Page 1

RETIRING PROBLEMS.

DANGEROUS A.S.C. WORK

In retirements it is moving “ the Army behind the Army ” that presents the greatest problem. For every man who uses rifle or artillery there are three or four others stretching away rearwards to attend upon his needs. When the actual fighting men begin to fall back danger aiises of the men behind them being turned into a disorganised mob. This cm be prevented only by careful generalship. It is commonly supposed that the Army Service Corps and other such auxiliaries have a “cushy” time. Never was there a greater misconception. During a retirement such as that our Army has been making in France the enemy seeks to isolate the troops immediately in front of him by cutting off all communications in tlieir rear. He hammers roads miles back with heavy artillery, particularly spots wheie ways intersect one another or which are in the vicinity of a railhead. But “touch” must be maintained. Consequently the A.S C. drivers, whether of horse transport or motor lorries, have to make their wav through the hail of projectiles. Once they have won through they must turn mid risk it again. All munitions for men and guns are moved in this manner. As the front line falls back so the transport has to reorganise itself in orderly fashion no matter how thickly enemy shells may be dropping around. Traffic in all circumstances is usually directed on the same system as it isin Eondon. Frequently there are ex-Eonclon policemen controlling it. One string of wagons passes forward, keeping to its proper side of the road, while the backward moving stream flows along the other. No departure from this rule is permitted. If it were, the vehicles coming from opposite directions. would get in each other’s way and in place of an orderly withdrawal there would be a mete rout.

Guns go tip and down in the same manner. So do the ambulances. The ” Traffic Control ” stands at every street corner, at every crossroad, and wheaver a switch-road has been opened. What he says counts as law, for he is Cord of the highways and all must obey him. No cheerful task his, either. No matter how hot may be the corner he occupies, he has to “ stick it ” so long as lie remains uninjured. Immediately he gets “ pipped ” another autocrat steps into his place. All main roads are quire well known to the enemy, who is able to fire on'them “ by the map,” as it is termed. In other words, he knows just how to lay his guns to make any particular section of the road practically impassable. Road-making forms a far more important part of the operations than is generally realised, whether troops be advancing or retiring. Particularly in the latter ease unduly congested traffic may be the precursor of disaster; therefore every general tries his utmost to avoid it. Conditions may easily , arise in which the heavy motorlorries, now used in such numbers by both sides, become something of an embarrassment. They can- j not be driven over ploughed fields or anv kind of rough country, as can light horsed vehicles. Made 1 roads are needed to carry them. And in a withdrawal this class of : traffic demands careful handling if; dangerous ‘blocks” are to be prevented. Such problems as these are not left to the chance of the moment but are carefully thought out beforehand, since a competently handled army has its plans laid for a move in either direction at any time.

All advancing force always forms big “dumps” (or depots) of various kinds of war material close behind it. Buildings of different sorts also spring up to meet the hundred and one requiiements of the troops, and nowadays also there are the field railways. Shifting back this impedimenta is seldom possible. Consequently it is destroyed to prevent it from falling into the enemy’s hands. Sometimes he may advance so rapidly that this cannot be done. But generally the kerosene can or the dynamite has done its work before the eiiemy reaches depots of abandoned stores, buildings, or railways that would, he of use f<i bin*.