During the battle of the Marne, an entire army corps was transported in less than a week by 180 trains from the borders of the Meuse to the east of Paris, thus reinforcing our left wing just at the moment when it was commencing to shake the German army.
Finally, after the battle of the Marne, when the enemy was being pursued and was attempt ing to outflank us to the north, over 6,000 trains were employed to transport 70 divisions, in many cases for long distances, and again the rapidity of transportation was a factor of success.
During these first weeks of the war, the railway personnel not only showed their abso lute devotion to duty, but gave striking evi dences of their endurance and energy, winning the highest praise alike of the government and thepublic.
Resumption of Commercial. At the commencement of mobilization, all com mercial traffic was interrupted; it was resumed by degrees when the concentration of the forces was completed; at first the trains were few and far between, but their number was gradu ally increased as military transportation per mitted. When the war of movements gave place to a war of positions, and a fixed front was established, the consequent decrease in the displacement of troops left more facilities for commercial traffic, and with the resumption of business and the development of war industries, an increasing traffic was re-established.
But as France was deprived of a part of its rich agricultural and industrial provinces in the north and east, it lost the greater portion of its iron and steel production, its coal out put and sugar produce, and also the centre of its woolen industry, to mention only the prin cipal industries affected. On the other hand, the requirements of the army attained unpre cedented proportions. It became necessary not only to seek raw material abroad but also manufactured •goods.
Gradually the movement of shipping con siderably increased; the monthly tonnage which, before the war, amounted to 2,800,000 tons, reached 5,019,000 tons in July 1916, or almost double. The increase made itself felt partic ularly toward the end of 1916; it was more marked for the northern and Channel ports, due to the presence of the British army in the north of France, and to the important centres of Havre and Rouen which supply Paris, but it was general throughout France.
This resulted in a so-called •Transport crisis? In a speeCh in the Chambre des Deputes in reply to certain Criticisms ad dressed to railway managers, Colonel Gassouin gave the following figures: A comparison of the present kilometric traffic with that of times of peace gives 140 per cent for the °Etat') lines, as against the pre-war figure, 149 per cent for the "P. L. 166 per cent for the "P. and 200 per cent for the and this not withstanding that there were fewer cars in use than in peace time.
Submarine Railway Company in it had obtained a concession obligate; pend at least 2,000,000 francs (54 vestigation work. The French ccc• over 7,000 soundings, took over 3)1 from the sea-bottom in the Strx sank a shaft and started a heading' gatte. The English company me siderable opposition and interrninces eral rival projects were mooted. It the British governn'ient suspender', then in progress, a shaft 164 feet chalk at Shakespeare's Cliff. Door sunk, whence at an inclination cf driftway seven feet in diameter prc. yards eastward under the sea. Br,* deemed it einexpedient for a salo4 munication to exist between Ethi France," and despite the persistent eft prominent supporter, Sir Edward WM, presented bill after bill, all appeal lowed to continue the work were :7: soon, however, as the British Part-= Bides in favor of the tunnel, the IA speedily pushed to a successful cone: Statistics.— The development e: and the paid-up capital by decades was as follows: Consequences of the War.— It may seem premature to endeavor as yet to outline the effects of the war on railway companies. Still, if we take into account its results up to date, we shall not go far wrong in saying that there will be an increase in traffic rates in France after the war. This is the opinion of a number of competent men and is backed up by the financial results of operation during the last year or two.