We touch here upon those questions of control and organisation of military traffic which had been a fruitful source of trouble in earlier wars, and more especially so on the French railways in the war of 1870-71. There was, indeed, much wisdom in the attempt now being made, as a precautionary measure, to provide well in advance against the risk of similar experiences in regard to movements of British troops by rail, while the course adopted led to the creation of a system which was to ensure excellent results later on. In the first instance the officers appointed under the system here in question were known as "Railway Control Officers," (R.C.O.'s,) their chief as the "Director of Railways," (D.R.,) and the organisation itself as the "Railway Control Establishment"; but the titles of Railway Transport Officers (R.T.O.'s), Director of Railway Transport (D.R.T.) and Transport Establishments were afterwards substituted. The functions of the Director of Railway Transport are thus defined in Field Service Regulations, Part II, section 23 (1913):-- Provision of railway transport and administration of railway transport personnel. Control, construction, working and maintenance of all railways. Provision of telegraph operators for railway circuits. Control and working of telephones and telegraphs allotted to the railway service. For the erection and maintenance of all telegraph circuits on railways which are worked by the troops, a representative of the Director of Army Signals will be attached to his headquarters and the necessary signal troops allotted to him as may be ordered by the I.G.C. (Inspector-General of Communications). As regards the Railway Transport Establishments, the Regulations say (section 62):-- In railway matters, the authority of each member of a railway transport establishment will be paramount on that portion of a railway system where he is posted for duty. Railway technical officials will always receive the demands of the troops for railway transport through the railway transport establishment. Except when fighting is imminent or in progress, a member of the railway transport establishment will receive orders from the Director of Railway Transport only, or his representative. An officer, or officers, of the railway transport establishment, recognized by a badge worn on the left arm marked R.T.O., will be posted for duty at each place where troops are constantly entraining, detraining, or halting _en route_. Their chief duties will be:-- 1. To facilitate the transport of troops, animals and material. 2. To act as a channel of communication between the military authorities and the technical railway personnel. 3. To advise the local military authorities as to the capacity and possibilities of the railway.