and that ammunition, supply, sanitary, and engineer columns will be pushed forward beyond this zone when necessary.

It is the duty of the commander of the line of communications to advance this line from time to time so as to maintain contact with the trains of the field forces.

362. Command.-All troops, military establishments and personnel in the zone of the line of communications, are under control of its commander, except such as may be specially exempted by War Department orders. He is responsible for the defense of the line of communications and for the government of that portion of the zone placed under military control.

363. Administration and Control.-For administration and control the line of communications is organized as follows:

(a) A service of defense.

(b) A supply, sanitary, and telegraph service.
(c) A service of military railways.

The senior staff officer of each group of the base section of the supply, sanitary, and telegraph service of the line of communications acts as technical adviser of the commander of the line of communications on all matters relating to the operation of his corps within the zone of the line of communications.

364. Staff officers belonging to organizations assigned to the service of defense have no responsibilities in connection with the operations of the supply, sanitary, and telegraph service other than those directly connected with their organizations.

365. Upon arrival at the base all persons under the War Department orders or with authority to join the field forces come at once under the orders of the commander of the line of communications and report their arrival at headquarters.

Service of Defense.

366. Suitable troops are assigned to duty under the commander of the line of communications and are charged under his orders with the defense of the line of communications and with the protection of all columns pushed out by the advance section of the supply, sanitary, and telegraph service. This territory is ordinarily divided into districts, each under a separate commander who is responsible for the defense and military police of his own district. These commanders have no control over properly authorized movements along the line of communications, of personnel, animals

or matériel, except in case of imminent danger from the enemy. They are then responsible that traffic is stopped until, in their opinion, it may be safely resumed, or until orders from superior authority are received. The action taken will be at once reported by telegraph to the chief of staff of the line of communications. Troops, ammunitions, or supplies going to the front are not to be diverted for the use of the line of communications troops, except by authority of the commander of the line of communications.

367. When armored trains are used their crews will form part of the line of communications troops and are under the direct orders of the commander of the district in which they are operating. Railway traffic is not to be interfered with by the use of armored trains except in the face of imminent danger from the enemy.

Supply, Sanitary, and Telegraph Service.

368. The commander of the line of communications is in charge of all supply and sanitary matters and of the construction and maintenance of all lines of information within the limits of his command.

He is responsible that the reserve of supplies on hand in his various depots shall be maintained between the maximum and minimum amounts fixed by the commander of the field forces. He furnishes the War Department a copy of a list of the stores required, showing the maximum and minimum amounts to be kept on hand, and keeps the War Department informed of the amount of funds needed for the prosecution of his work. He forwards his requisitions for supplies not procurable in the theater of operations to the War Department or to such depots as the War Department may designate for furnishing particular supplies.

He prepares and enforces stringent regulations for the physical examination of officers and enlisted men, who are sick or wounded, to the end that the force in the theater of operations suffers no depletion incident to the return to the home country of malignerers, or those who within a reasonable length of time will be able to return to duty.

369. For purposes of control and coordination of the supply, sanitary and telegraph service, a line of communications is ordinarily divided into sections as follows: A base section and an advance section, each with an assistant chief of staff in charge competent to issue orders in the name of the commander of the line of communications. In certain unusual cases, due to an extensive

prolongation of the line of communications, an intermediate section may be required. An advance section is required at the head of each important route of supply diverging from the base.

370. The operations of a base or intermediate section extend up to, but do not include, the depots, sanitary units, and telegraph stations of the next section in advance. Each section provides for the supply of the line of communication troops within its limits. So far as possible formal accountability is terminated and replaced by a system of responsibility when supplies are turned over to troops or trains in the zone of the advance and to troops and trains of the section of defense in the zone of the line of communication. Commanders and staff officers of all grades are responsible for the proper use and disposition of supplies issued to their organizations and for supplies temporarily in their charge.

371. If no service of military railways be organized, it is the function of the base section to provide and operate the necessary means of transport or to make shipments by commercial means between the base and the section next in advance. Under similar conditions it is the function of intermediate sections, if operated, to connect in the same manner with the section next in advance.

372. All personnel necessary to the proper functioning of the supply, sanitary, and telegraph service report at the base for assignment to duty. Here advance and intermediate sections are organized and sent forward as required.

373. Base Section.-The assistant chief of staff with the base section is charged with coordinating the work of the quartermaster, medical, engineer, ordnance, and signal base groups.

He is informed of the probable requirements of the advance and intermediate sections, transmits this information to the officers in charge of the various groups and issued the orders for meeting these requirements.

374. All requisitions are viséed by the assistant chief of staff of the base section before being transmitted to the point from which supplies are furnished.

375. All supplies (except those for the service of military railways) shipped into the base either for use of the field forces or for the troops of the line of communication are consigned to the "Quartermaster," "Surgeon," etc., at the base.

376. Advance Section.-The assistant chief of staff with the advance section is charged with coordinating the work of the quartermaster, medical, engineer, ordnance, and signal advance groups. The operations of these groups extend to and include the refill