The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-08-23


,,ootod the further de-
velopment of the great base ports n''! !,to,,...
of some of its originally contemplated lune 49,,
but however that may be, it is now one ol ,u'
main pillars of the structure. III co'Up'lS'9 -
variety of enterprises, all on huse sc"o'
tered at various points over large Secuoh vi '
country but skilfuy linked up by rail. one
branch dovetailed into another, and all cothoih'
ing for the quick handling of stores Tor an arm!
of millions.
An Organization chart" showing the activities
centered under the commanding general ol lhls
great intermediate section, though not quite SO
Formidable perhaps, reminds one Of a chart OF
the Whitehall district of London. This command
ing officer is responsible primarily for the main
reserve stores for the American expeditonary
forces and the constant sending forward o. thelr
daily supplies; but in addition to that he has
large measure of responsibility for the orSanlza-
ton and control of great camps, schools, base
hospitals rest areas, engineering and repair
shops the principal repository for spare parts"
of all machinery used in the army cold storage
plants, oil and petrol depOts, forestry work and
control Of a goOd-siZed labor army, which in
Cudes many thousands OF negroes, Cinnamon and
German prisoners of war.
A round of this huge field of operations is
both instructive and inspiring. At one point l
went through an enormous locomotive assembling
and repair works (housed in a great modern fac
tory building now nearing completon) built for
the Americans, under French supervision, by n
Spanish firm; huge oil and petrol supply sta
ton, a 10OOO-bed hospital and number Of other
highly important branches of central organIza-
tion which constitutes Of the real backbone
sections of the service Of supply. At another
point | went great railway yards 10 see the
upon rows Of street structure warehouses
which are being built TO hold supplies for
army of n million men for 30 days; an immense
refrigeratng plant and countless other features.
all on the same prOdgtous scale.
Calm. quiet supervising It all, watch
ing II grow before their eyes. When the tcle-
phones jingle (and they are never long In re-
pose) there is no shouting, no excitement; just
quiet. firm replies TO the questions put. There
Is everywhere an air OF suppressed energy rather
than eXuberance "bustle" II is orderly prog
ress firmly guided by strong minds, by capable
men. America has put her best executives into
this work and they are rapidly making good as
events of the very near future are certain TO
prove.
Farther along the line | much the same
evidence Of orderness combined with strength
in ;he army bakeries, in the big central CANON
hage plant, AT the various advanced ccnters from
which the army supplies are rearranCed for
shifting to various railroads and thence to the
soldiers at the front
IT, many believe, it is going 10 be neces-
sary for the Americans to put an army Of 3OOo-
900 into the field TO enable the allies TO achieve
definite and conclusive military victory, then
the quick development of the full American pro-
gram is a matter Of the highest Importance to
the whole allied cause. From every point of
view the results of the first years work may be
set down n glorious achievement. OF which
Americans have every right TO be proud; the
years record is a monument TO their zeal and
their wonderful ability 1t Is record which
promises still greater things for the future.
1t spells the beginning of the end and points
clearly TO an overwhelming victory for the allies
1t seems TO me that the more the people OF
France and England and the United States know
about this American work in France the better.
If the enemy, failing in his effort to deliver a
Knockout blow by finging against the allied lines
the full force of his eastern armies, released by
the collapse Of Russia, next turns his efforts to
concentrated peace offensive, doubtless ne will
then surely clear knowledge of the nature and
extent OF the American achievement 10 date Of
the American plans and most OF all an under
standing Of the underlying determination TO 20
the whole distance and not stop till the right
kind Of peace has been secured will steel ihe
hearts OF the war-weary and silence the
traitors and pacifsts among for good md all