The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-10-11
Vivid Word Picture of Port OF De-
barkation for American
Troops.
HUMAN Side IS DESCRIBED
Miracles Worked Here IN a Year by
American Energy-f'-stery Sur
rounds Flight and Return Of
Allied Sea Craft.
BY LYNCH.

A French Port.-This is not only a
is q port where many men are perma-
nently stationed In various military
and naval duties. 1t is Il center OF
awaiting and seaplane stations, for
welfare and hospital activities. Dock
work is done by labor battaliOns, mum
herring many men. Here the shore
days Of men of the patrol and convoy
fleets are spent. How is this port to
care for such an influx? American en-
ergy can answer the question. Amerl
can energy does. Cinemas AMI vaude-
villes are plentiful, a theater leased by
the Y. M. &. A. providing the best en-
tertainment the town can boast.
The principal street is lined with
shops where Partisan products are cen
sored 10 suit provincial tastes. To
these have been added n Multiplicity
of goods To tempt the keepsake and
souvenir wants of the strangers.
Along the streets that lead from the
gates TO the suburbs are ~"baraques."
or covered pushcarts, extending for a
mile or more, where gimcracks are sold
To sailors, free with their money and
not too well-endowed with the powers
of selection.
Along the streets, the e~ver-varying,
never changing war procession! ON
GERS of the army and navy, marines,
English Tommies, men and women of
the Y. NJ. G.. A., and the Red Cross,
convalescents, casuals, Moroccans, Al
gerians, ~Senegalese, sitting In rows
with nodding feZzes and flashing teeth,
peasants from many provinces, each
with @ distinctive dress, fighters and
monks.
Over the sea wall is always n curl
Gus crowd Of o~nlookers. In less than
a year they have seen first a few ship
loads, then more and still more, until
now the weekly debarkation Of thou
sands auses little comment.
Let Heinle Look Out.
Hear the conversation Of two, an
American soldier and a French Poilu
who lean over the wall and look down
to the landing places where q smart
naphtha launch is bringing to shore an
admiral and his staff. The American
speaks:
Suppose the Heinies do get Paris,
what Of that? If they get London,
what of that? Hope they don't, for I'd
like to see the old burgs before / go
back 10 the farm, but that won't make
any difference; SO long as we have a
foothold In the harbor, that's all we
ask. Let Heinie look out. Paris and
~London-they aren't the war. Not on
your tintype."
The French Poilu who understands
all the English but the tintype allu-
sion, looks amazed, her relieved. He
had the provincial idea that Paris and
London were the war.
Over the seawall the observer looks
down on he harbor town. The way
leads by winding stairways of stone
and slanting roofs. From 1t rises the
tang of brine mingled with the Odors
Of warehouses, oil and naphtha-those
thousand and one smells that are MS
much a part of the port as are storage
warehouses, docks and quays, basins
and breakwaters. Beyond, the eve
travels far to 'the beauty and mystery
Of the ships and the magic of the sea-
' Descend by one of these many
routes. You find yourself overwhelmed
with dirt and confusions. Here thou
sands Of negro stevedores work like
a colony OF big. black ants. There are
squads Of Ammannites and Portuguese.
Sailors oaths strike the ear. 1t Is a
babel Of foreign sounds. Every inch of
this water front is covered with en-
ergy, docking, construction, loading
and unloading, transportation. repairs.
America has worked miracles here In
a year.
Inside and outside the breakwaters