The efficiency of the service of the railways which generally form the Lines of Communication is of the utmost importance to the Army, as on it depends the issue of supplies and ammunition to the troops at the front, and consequently their ability to move and fight. The control of the Railway Services is laid on the Director of Railways, who is responsible to the Inspector-General of Communications, and works under the supervision of the Quarter-Master-General’s Branch of the Staff. The work of the Railway Services comprises the _maintenance_ and _working_, as well as the _repair_ (and sometimes the _construction_), of railways in the theatre of operations. The personnel of the Railway Services consists of two entirely separate bodies. One is termed the _Technical Railway Personnel_, and the other the _Railway Control Establishments_. The _Technical Personnel_ is provided in a friendly country by the civil railway companies, but in a hostile country by the Royal Engineers, when it is organized in a _Central Railway Establishment_, two _Railway Districts_, and three _Railway Companies_ of Engineers. There is allotted also, from the two Lines of Communication Telegraph Companies, a _Railway Telegraph Section_ for the exclusive use of the Railway Service. The “Central Railway Establishment” and the two “Railway Districts” are organized in branches for the following purposes: Management, Traffic, Engineering, Locomotive, Accounts, Stores. The total strength of these Units is 51 Officers and 854 other ranks. The total strength of three “Railway Companies” is 12 Officers and 732 other ranks. The _Railway Control Establishments_ are the medium of communication between the troops and the Technical Personnel. Officers of this body are posted at the chief stations to facilitate the traffic, arranging all details with the troops, providing meals at certain stations, and supervising the movement of men, animals, and stores. The personnel of the “Railway Control Establishment” is 7 Officers and 10 clerks and checkers, distributed to each important station. The Director of Railways and his personnel have no responsibility for the technical security of the railway; for this the “Commander of the Line of Communication Defences” is responsible. 8. THE WORKS SERVICE The Director of Works carries out all Engineer services (apart from Railways and Telegraphs) required on the Lines of Communication. One Company of Engineers, without transport, is allotted for these services, and is supplemented by civil artisans and unskilled labourers, who are either brought from home, or hired locally.