WORK OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS IN 1914-1918: INTELLIGENCE

Discusses the lack of Engineer intelligence on the Western Theatre and what the main requirements were to remedy the situation and how to disseminate the material. This section begins by noting the complete lack of Engineer intelligence regarding the Western Theatre of War before 1914. An old, 1906 report confirmed that the roads in Belgium were paved or macademised, while all it said about the Meuse was that its current was swift in places while its depth was sometimes as much as 45 feet. Not a great deal of use! It then goes on to detail what information was needed and what efforts were made to get it. It also stressed the need for pamphlets and such like material for Stationery Services Publications and keeping them up to date; and fourthly was there was the requirement to obtain information on enemy field engineering methods and disseminate it. This section concludes with a series of appendices showing list of the plates of field work designs, a list of the Engineer-in-Chief’s Field-Work notes, Classified index of Mining notes, lists of publications and a list of German field-work plates. Reprint of the 1926 original edition.