Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-18
"STlLL ABSORBING" DECLARES
SECRETARY BAKER in FRANCE
American War Head Walks Three Miles and Puts in
Fourteen-Hour Day Investigating Vast Undertakings
of Sammies Abroad; Completes Conferences
With Statesmen and Generals.

Secretary Bakers first work after his
conference with the French statesmen
and American generals at the capital
has been to begin his study of what
the Americans are doing and ought
to do in France, by survey Of
great port department.
81 am still absorbing" said he at
the end of 14-hour day. II must say
frankly that I did not know the i'm.
mensity of the enterprise which we
have undertaken in opening new ports.
and when I see what we have occom.
plished here I am satisfied"
ACCOMPANIED BY pERSHING.
The American war secretary at the
port in question was attended by
General Pershing, Major General
William NJ. Black, Brigadier General
w. w. Atterbury and the officers of
the engineers who have been Great
ing vast new equipment for dock
ing and unloading ships. The secre-
tary walked for three miles along the
American army dock front already
constructed or in the process of con-
struction as an extension to the berths
for a number of ships placed at the
disposition of the Americans by the
French government. Two miles of
this new sea frontage consisted of
marshes on October | last. The
ground has been filled in by dredg-
ings and ships are already alongside
some of these new berths. On other
parts of the frontage concreted ware
houses are going up and great sys-
tenn of switches has been laid or is
in the course of being laid.
"I like to come out here once a
week" said colonel of the engineers
to the correspondent, "and see how
different things look from what they
did the week before. almost lose
my way"
This new dockage, with two other
new frontages that are being de-
veloped in connection with it, will al
low 40 large, or 90 medium-sized
steamers to be unioaded simultane-
ously. r }"<
Questions Are Frequent.
Mr.. Bakers questions were fire.
quent, penetrating and often techni-
cal when the engineers were explain
ing the railway plexus connecting the
various ports with the bases in the
Interior. He asked particularly about
grades, so as to estimate the require
ments in engine power and the heavi-
ness of loads. He rather astonished
the engineers by the detailed charac-
ter of his questionings, which touched
the very problems that bother them
most.
At heavy artillery training camp
Secretary Baker saw a battery Of
long range, large calibre guns put
into position. They are swung over
by automobile tractors and shallow
recoil trenches were quickly dug, but
with unerring methods. Mr.. Baker
took stand close to one of the great
pieces and followed the explanations
of the major in command. 1t was
one of the new guns from a French
workshop and of type with which
the American artillerists are already
making reputation on the front.
Sights New Gun.
The secretary had been told by
French officers of the skill of the
American gunners in handling this
weapon, in the management of which
the French artillerists heretofore had
considered themselves unexcelled. Mr..
Baker became so interested that he
mounted the chief gunner's sand and
looked through the master sight and
watched the adjustment of the piece
to the range markings.
The secretary's train arrived at an
important town near the port at 8
o'clock in the morning. The prefect
of the department, the French general
commanding the district and numer.
Gus American officers were there to
welcome him. His reception was
simple. The band, as Secretary
Baker and General Pershing issued
from the station, sounded the salute
to the colors, and battalion Of
American soldiers stood at salute
That was the only ceremony of the
day, except a small review of the
troops at the artillery camp.
Official lunches and dinners are,
: by the secretary's request, omitted
from his program. He and General
Pershing remained aboard the train
at night and spend most OF their
travelling days on business.
Visits Dock Yards.
The Americans with the object only
of winning the war, are expending in
this region on permanent railroad and
dock works about $40,000000 French
ports will be expanded as they prob
ably would not have been for a good
Continued on Page Two, Column One.)