The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-30
Spirit of Intense Eagerness
Animates u. S. Troops in France

AMERICAN PORT, WESTERN
FRANCE, Aug. 30.-The spirit which
animates the Americans here is the
same as that of the front line trenches.
in the words of the General command
ing. 1t is an inspiration of intense
eagerness. This is shown by the fact
that under the stress of haste to send
American soldiers to the fighting
front, the time required to unload the
greatest American transports, bring
ing $4,000 troops, coal her and start
her back to America, has been re-
duced from four days to forty hours.
This is the best deep-water port of
western continental. Europe, with a
harbor capable of receiving the navies
of the world, and yet up to this time
when the Americans came here six
months ago it was practically undevel-
oped and unused. 1t was estimated
that the facilities might possibly per-
nit the landing of 10000 men month.
But with 100000 men a month COM
ing from America, something had to
be done on a gigantic scale and done
quickly. Fortunately the emergency
produced the men An American
d
executed some of the great engineer
ing projects of the west, and an Ameri-
can Admiral who has the reputation
of accomplishing large things in a
quiet way; around them were grouped
men of the same talents.
Out of it has arisen this marvellous
receiving port of today, where one
days landing of $4,000 men has been
followed next day by 15,000-60,000
in two days or at the unheard rate
of 100000 a month. And the strange
thing has been that the port has not
felt or even known of the huge mi
grafton passing through its gates. so
quietly and smoothly the organization
has functioned.
1t is the same with the handling of
the immense stocks of war supplies
as it is with the handling of troops.
Six months ago it was estimated that
5000 tons month could be handled
Actually more than that is handled
daily, and this is not the main port
for supplies. as it is for men.
A large measure of credit for the
high record in debarking troops is
given by the General to the officer in
charge of the several thousand negro
stevedores. This officer has had a re-
markable career which exactly equips
him for the present huge undertaking.
He was a Liverpool decker. who went
to the United States with the Cunard
company, and worked up to the posi-
ton of terminal superintendent at Bos-
ton. AS an expert and master OF dock
ing he was appointed major in the
army. But he forgets all about being
a major when he takes command of
those 1000 black StevedoreS and a
great ocean steamer heaves into sight
with thousands of men aboard who
must be landed on record time. All
the old spirit of the Liverpool decker
comes back again, he becomes a hui
man dynamo, and the army Of black
stevedores follow him with the same
eagerness that men follow their lead
er over the top" Here are some
examples showing just what this
means:
Has Commercial Future.
When the greatest of American
transports first came over it took 80
days to. unload her at Liverpool. The
next trip was better-2S days. Then
on the third trip it was decided to
send her to this French port where
the Americans had begun to take
things over. 1t was a risky expert
ment. they thought But they failed
to reckon on the major and his black
stevedores, for this is the remarkable
record Of how the great vessel has
been handled at this port:
First arrival 10000 men and sup
plies unloaded and the ship coaled and
sent back in four days.
Second arrival. unloaded, coaled and
sent back in three days.
Third arrival, unloaded, coaled and
sent back in forty-eight hours.
Fourth arrival, unloaded, coaled and
sent back in forty hours.
The magnitude of such an accom-