Evening star., 1918-07-14
LEARN TO UNLOAD
SHIPS IN A HURRY
y. s. Patrol Fleet and Trans
port Service Make Record
in French Waters.
THINGS MOVE SWIFTLY
BF A. b. DECKER.
Especial CerFeepondence Of The gBn-
dAy Star a0d Chicago Daily NewS3

aAy Star saa Chicago Daily Hews.1
WITH THE AMERICAN PATROL
FLEET IN FRENCH WATERS, Nay
22.-It has been extremely inter-
esting to watch the efficient manner
in which the organisation Of the
American patrol feet has been mold
ed into shape. Starting with noth-
ing. gradually but surely, the Amer
lean forces have been equipped, or
ganised and developed into an effec-
tive unit which has won the entire
praise Of the French and the Brit
tsh. This development has gone on
one In close touch with the ships and
their crews hardly realizes the prog
ress that has been made.
In the early months when the Amer.
lean ships first arrived the organI-
zatfon OF the operation of the patrol
thing was new and unfamiliar. 1t
was difficult to obtain supplies and
almost impossible to have repairs at
tended to In q reasonable time. Much
time was lost and many mistakes
were made.
Today ali this is changed. The EN-
cheney of the operation Of the f1eet has
Increased immensely. / did not real
ixe this so much until an ofiicer
friend. returning on = ship which he'd
been assigned to escort duty down
Ine coast, spoke OF the changes which
which had been accomplished.
Things Move More Swiftly.
'ons would hardly recognise th,,
port ~ the Same base." he saia
"Wonders have been accomplished
here. remember the trouble we
used to have getting anything done
In the old days we had to hight for
coal and worry every one for sup
plies. A. for repairs. we all were &C.
went wrong. Tssn ordeTs Thaa assd ss%dsta'as ta e
contrary and not very well planned
out-at least so 1t seemed to me. me
base was q place to keep aWay from
as much as possible. When we ar
rived this time everything went like
clockwork. Our anchor was hardly In
the water before the Prometheus: the
repair ship. sent over q signal asking
| II we had any repair work to be at
tended to. and. II so, to send 1t owe,
,, at once. Then along came some coal
barges and the water tender. I ask
ed the Prometheus II they could re-
Send them along" was the reply
Our commissary steward made up an
enormous list Of provisions needed
for long cruise. He went ashore in
| the pulling boat. and in the supply
storehouse found everything he need
ed. Later In the day an olicer from
the ONCE gave US our sailing date
and orders. In twenty-four hours We
were provisioned, coaled and almost
ready for sea
This gave US time for extra liberty
ana those men not necessary for thu
watch were sent ashore. On the
beach we found the canteen open TO,
business. and naval T. II. C. A. hui
ready to receive US. The Garcia Band
was playing good old American music
In the square. to the delight of q
mixed crowd Of Americans and French
| sailors and civilians. There was ever
game Of three-o'-cat going on neal
Frenchman get hit By q foul tip. The,
! hxed him up in the Red Cross dis
pensaFy. Our crew 10 certainly goinl
to regrst leaving this trip"
Speed in Unloading Transports.
The same improved conditions Will
the patrol heet hold with the trans
ports- Hardly are the ships In thu
harbor before they are being un'
loaded. Strange to say, British light
! erS are, IN many cases, taxing on tht
American troops. These lighters con-,
to the landing loaded to the rails Will
doughhoys. who debark In q hurry
leaving aboard the lighters relics o.
sandwiches and lunches, which thu
seagoing Tommies sweep up ant
throw overheard before returning fol
another load Of troops. The trans
ports are cutting down their stay II
port, being unlosded, coaled and sen
homeward In record time, aometime,
in q day or two, or even less.
All this progress did not come o
IT'S own accord, but 10 the result o.
much painstaking thought and carr
on the part Of Admiral Wilson and hi!
aids. The organization had to b.
built, and now I believe one can safely
say that should the Germans attemp
| to increase their submarine campaign
the American patrol feet viii be sbl'
to protect the American communica
ttons with France s9 per cent leaving
! per cent to the tnvisibility OF th'