WAR GEOLOGY 169 



stand. He also points out the desirability of preliminary studies, in time 

 of peace, of the geological conditions about the possible enemies' strong- 

 holds. In general, Kranz foresaw much of the application of geology 

 which has been made in the last four years. 



The paper by Kranz provoked much discussion in Germany among 

 geologists and military men, and after the outbreak of the war many 

 articles appeared in newspapers and periodicals approving the plan of 

 Kranz for greater geological service, suggesting new applications and 

 revealing something of what was going on in developing that service, 

 until, soon after the United States entered the war, the censor forbade 

 further discussion, in the following terms : 



"Publications which permit to be recognized the effectiveness of geology or 

 kindred sciences in the service of the army are not permissible in the technical 

 as well as in the daily press." Dated May 25, 1917.^ 



From these discussions it is clear that in the past only a very slight 

 training in geology has been required for German army officers, and the 

 demand is now made that at least certain selected officers be given a 

 course in military geology covering several years. 



Among the suggestions of valuable work to be performed by army geol- 

 ogists while the submarines were starving out England may be noted the 

 exhortation to collect specimens for museums, when the advance is unfor- 

 tunately delayed. Again, with a spirit worth remembering at this time. 

 Professor Salomon, of Heidelberg, points out the great opportunity 

 afforded by the thousands of miles of trenches to learn in detail "the 

 geology of our neighbor's territories" — a knowledge so important for war 

 work. "Yes, even if the next peace were an everlasting peace. But who 

 ventures to hope that ?" "Consequently we, whose territory has so often 

 been the theater of invasion by our neighbors, must expect nothing else 

 than to be obliged once more to draw the sword for the protection of our 

 people. In such case it would be very easily possible that new battles 

 must be fought over the very ground where our armies now stand. And 

 our descendants would justly lament if we were now too short-sighted to 

 make use of the happy opportunity to study the field of future renewed 

 battle." 



ORGANIZATION OF GEOLOGICAL WORK IN THE ALLIED AND GERMAN 



ARMIES 



When the war broke out no one of the armies engaged possessed any 

 organized geological service. The earlier battles were fought and the 



2 From New York Times. 



