The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-17
VISITS GREAT NEW PORTS
AND DOCKS BEING BUILT
BY AMERICANS.
ONE THREE MILES LONG
Last October Ground Was Marsh
Forty Vessels to Dock at Some
Illnesses American Artillery
Placed in Position.
(By the Associated Press.)

cial Tram Ill FIdISO'
March l5.-Secretary Bakers first
work after his conferences with the
French statesmen and American
generals at the capital has been to
begins his study OF what the Ameri-
cans are doing and ought to do in
France by a survey OF d great port
department. .,, -.
II still am Absorbing said he at at
the end of fourteen-hour day. l
must say frankly, that ! did not
know the immensity Of the enter
prise which we have undertaken III
opening new ports, and when l see
wha we have accomplished here
am satisfied
The American war secretary "'
the particular port in question was
attended by General Pershing, Ma
ior General VIM. NJ. Black, Brig
Gen. w. w. Atterbury and the Oil
GERS OF the engineers who have been
creating new equipment for dock
ing and unloading ships.
The secretary walked Tor three
miles along the American army
dock front, an extension to the
herths for number OF ships placed
at the disposition OF the Americans
by the French government.
Marshes Last October.
Two miles of It's new sea frontage
consisted of marshes on October
last. The ground has been filled II
from dredgings in deepening the
water fronts, and ships are ALREADY
alongside some OF these new berths
On other parts OF the frontage, con
crete warehouses are going up anC
4 great system OF switches has beer
laid or is in the course OF being laid
81 like to come out here once
week" said colonel OF the engl
neers to the correspondent. "an'
see how different things look iron
what they did the week before
almost lose my way
This new dockage, with two othe
irontages that are being developed
in connection with it, will allow o
forty large or sixty medium slze'
steamers to be unloaded simultane
ously.
Questions Are Penetrating.
Mr.. Bakers questions were ire
ouent, penetrating and often tech
meal when the engineers were eN
planning the railway pleXus connect
ing the various ports with the base
in the interior. He asked particu
larly about grades, so as to cstimat
the requirements in engine poWc
and the heaviness OF loads. II
rather astonished the engineers b
the detailed character Of his ques
tioning which touched the yer
problems that bother them most,
At a heavy artillery training camI
Secretary Baker saw battery c
long range, large caliber guns pu
into position. They were swun
over by automobile tractors an
shallow recoil trenches were du
quickly, but with unerring method
Mr.. Baker took stand close t
one of the great pieces and followe
the explanations of the major
command. 1t was one of the ne'
guns from a French workshop, an
OF a type with which the America
artillerists are already making a reI
utation on their sectors at tn
front.
Americans Skillful With Cannon
Secretary Baker had been told b
French officers of the skill OF II
American gunners in handling tn
weapon, in the management
which the French artillerists her
tofore had considered themselv'
uneXcelled. Mr.. Baker became
interested that he mounted the Chi
gunner's stand and looked throue
the master sight and watched II
adjustment of the piece to the ranl
markings.
The secretary's train arrived
an important town near the port
8 o'clock in the morning. The pr
feet of the department, the FrenC
general commanding the distriC
and numerous American office
we're there to welcome him. II
reception was simple. The ban
as Secretary Baker and Gener
Pershing issued from the static
sounded the salute to the color
and a battalion OF American soldie
stood at salute. That was the on
ceremony of the day except SIN;
review of the troops at the artille
y camp.
VI Official lunches and dinners al
by the secretary's request, omitt'
n from his program. lie and Gener
"a Pershing remain aboard the ira
at night and spend most of the
travelling days in business