The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-10-12
AMERICANS IN FRANCE

/
ships of 5000 to 5000 tons each were
unloading American army goods at
the rate Of 10000 tons a day along
the three miles of American docks
here today. The spectacle was
stirring scene of activity. Crowds Of
enlisted men assisted at the matches
and manipulated the giant cranes as
big steel motor trucks were lifted out
bodily, along with parts Of locomo-
tives and railway cars, and all the
miscellaneous freight Of an army,
while an army of negro stevedores
kept the steady stream of goods NOV
ing back to the nearby warehouses
and trains.
Taking care Of this avalanche Of
army goods coming from America, Is
quite as much Of problem as taking
care of the arriving troops. Here
one obtains an idea of the mammoth
proportions Of the equipment which
the Americans have been compelled
to set up for this branch of the expe-
dition.
Coming from northern port, a
succession Of big American establish
ments was seen at every port along
the western coast. At one port were
: IA American docks or berths at an
other port eight, at third four, an
other three. Here at this main port
are 16 American docks each with a
thousand feet of frontage.
These As docks at the five main
ports represent a dock frontage OF
about ten miles, capable Of unload
ing 10000 tons Of army goods every
day, or an average of about 80 pounds
per man for everyone serving in
France.
And yet, great as this present
tie equipment is, it represents only about
=. third Of the vast installation which
DO is moving steadily forward to com
pletion in order to meet the needs o.
~ an army Of several million men, TIT
ay basis of calculation for this hug
work is so pounds per day per man
es- this being an average covering IN
led whole range of military supplies, In
4, dividual and general, food, clothing
the ammunition guns, and all other arm
ate requirements.
re- On this established basis Of 5
pounds per day per man, an army 9
of million men requires 100000
fol- pounds of goods daily, or $4,000 ton
NJ But as the American army in EuroT
2s has long exceeded the million mar
2s the scale of preparation must be Il
~ in excess Of this $4,000 tons a ia
tce reaching not far from the gigant
No total of 100000 tons daily, to be u
" loaded from ships, stored in war
= houses and trains, and started on !
= way to the men at the front. 1t
, set this colossal daily requirement whit
ltol, stirs into intense activity these mil
ON miles OF American docks whe
three shifts of soldier workme
working night and day, are unloadil
49, scores Of steamships.
Seven miles back from the wat
NAL front there is another huge Anne
can installation where goods ire
rlda, the ships are stored on their way
!. the front. Il is gigantic, like eve
may thing in this vast military influx, a
else s when we visited it today the 14I
pro- pro- warehouse had just then been co
ased; Melted. Each warehouse is 500 Il
r. ratcr long and together they stretch alo
four miles of front.
or. In the neighboring camp yere ~
negro troops and laborers engaged
More the warehouse work. An Amerlt
railway system connects the wal
front directly with this storage pi
You and incessant streams of army go'
keep moving forward to the wa
. house plant. The whole place fal
.- throbs with animation, and best
the enormous industry there is
hustle and activity of countless car
with their khaki tents dotting
fields for miles along the railway
Altogether, on the water front
receiving plant, the working &c
includes $4,000 engineers troops, Z
stevedores, 5000 civilian labor
600 German prisoners and 1,ooo
fantrv. in all 10000 men carrying
the American activities at this
port.