GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



336TH MEETING 



The 336th meeting was held at the Cosmos Club, Wednesday eve- 

 ning, May 7, 1919, President Ulrich presiding, and 173 persons present. 



Alfred H. Brooks: Some geologic problems relating to the war in 

 Europe. 



At the outbreak of the war no provision had been made for the use 

 of geologists in any of the belligerent armies. So far as known the 

 British Expeditionary Force was the first to employ geologic officers 

 in determining water supply, and the Germans the first to recognize 

 the need of geologic knowledge in military mining. In the latter field 

 the British soon followed, and under the leadership of Lt. Col. T. 

 Edgeworth David carried the geologic work to a much higher degree 

 of refinement than did any of the other armies. Geologic staffs were 

 organized in both the British and German armies early in 19 16, and 

 probably at about the same time geology was given some recognition 

 in the Austrian Army. A geologic section was established in the 

 American Expeditionary Force in September, 191 7. There were no 

 geologic officers in the French Army during the entire war, though 

 some of the French engineers made use of the science. 



The principal applications of geology to military problems are as 

 follows : 



(i) The determination of water resources, both underground and 

 surface, at the front and along the line of communication. 



(2) The determination of the physical character of soil, subsoil, and 

 bedrock and the presence or absence of underground water with rela- 

 tion to their effect on field works, including trenches, dugouts, and 

 mines. 



(3) The distribution, occurrence, and quantity of road metal, ballast, 

 and material for concrete. 



(4) The determination of the physical character of soil, and subsoil 

 during wet and dry seasons, with relation to its influence on the move- 

 ment of large bodies of troops and of artillery and tanks. 



Practically all uses of geology fall within the above general classifica- 

 tion. It is evident that any engineering project involving extensive 

 excavation may call for geologic knowledge. It is evident too that the 

 sanitation of camps and cantonments must take cognizance of the un- 

 derground drainage conditions as well as of water supply and surface 

 formations. It has been found that certain geologic conditions by 

 furnishing good electric transmission favor the use of the listening de- 

 vices which were extensively used during the period of trench warfare. 

 It should be added that one of the important uses of geology in the 



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