El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-01
FRENCH PORT
REJUVENIZED
System of Communication
and Transportation Is
Built Up by U. S.

Rv JAMES HALEN HYDE.
(FormerIy president Of great insur-
ance company, now residing IN PARISH
Paris, France. July IL had the
honor Of a reception by admiral Will
son. in enc Of the great French ports.
not far from the spot where the
American flag was for the first time
saluted by France. This flag fIoated
from the first ship Of the union that
came TO France and was commanded
by Paul Jones. the father Of the
American navy.
What a change in this city. which
1 had not seen for a year Had 1 only
the talent OF an American Mahan or
Of a French Lott 10 describe for you
the intensity Of work and effort that
reigns herei At the time there was
only one American boat in the port.
a petroleum tanker OF the merchant
marine. with only a few gunuers on
board for its defence
HuzzIn- With American Activities.
Today the city is filled 20 overflow
ing with our soldiers and our ma
riies In the streets order is kept by
the American military and naval po-
lice which has some TO reinforce the
French police
Everywhere one sees only Ameri-
can autos and side cars; the little
white caps OF our seamen and the
khaki hats of our soldiers Gin the
trenches they were the English nell
met. which makes them resemble
their cousins from Overseas) mlnEle
with the red pOmpons OF the trencn
marines, against the blue horizon Of
soldiers on leave. with large felt
hats and somber blue uniforms lined
with bright red; Of our hospital at
tendants, with the khaki Of some
Euglishmen passing through and the
dark silhOuets Of our negroes large
mum bers OF whom are busy in our
ports. unloading the most varied
merchandise. from cases Of conserved
apricotes to automobiles
Red Cross and y. NJ. c. A.
These provisions. these munitions
furnished by our factories are the
result of the lessons which our allies
have taught US these last few years
by developing the manufacture OF war
products in our country
All Of them. marines and soldiers,
are young. gay, care free and ardent
An American policeman with whom
/ had occasion TO speak and who be-
longed 10 the American regular
army said to me:
I have not come over here 20
crack the whip; I want 10 90 fight
ing against the Germans"
The appearance OF the city is very
much Changed-if I may say so, II
has become AmericauiLed- The shops.
with their signs in English, are filled
with the greatest variety OF goods,
and the most exotic kinds. TO tempt
the American buyer
The two great auxiliary organlZa-
tons OF our army. the Red Cross,
which has erected dispensaries, and
the y. NJ C. A. are very active here
The latter has organized homes for
our fighters on land and sea as well
as for the French soldiers and ma
speed Sacrificed TO Perfection.
At the railway station. cars carry
ing 80 tons OF merchandise, with
enormous locomotives, are lying
alongside. the whole brought over
from America The trains are paint
ed gray. and in large letters bear the
inscription, u S A.
During the first months after the
war. without troubling why this
should be so, we had TO establish
communications for the transpOrta-
tion and supply OF our troops Ia
France.
Gen. PershinE. in this undertaking.
sacrificed speed 10 perfection, and II
have brought all the aid which could
be expected from US after year OF
war. we have given proof Of our de-
termination to fight with all our
means. Was il not Napoleon who said
that the secret Of war lies in the
communications
ships From the Pacific.
The port is filled with boats OF
all tonnages and Of every cescrip-
ton. some Of them camouflaged in
the style of fCturist pictures one
Of them. with q displacement OF 5000
ri HHHn
coast. where IL had been built in 50
days II had come through the
Panama canal. which decreases by
one-half the distance between our
Pacific coast and that OF the Atlantic
A number OF German transatlantic
steamers. transformed into trans
ports. are also senior we have
been able TO seize 100000 tons Of
German boats in American waters
which were unloading onto an Eng
1fsh tugb0at some Of our troops which
have come TO fight for liberty and
civilization.
and Austrian prisoners who were
watching this Decentralization was an
interesting thing 10 see and ] should
have loved to hear the reflections
which this spectacle was suggesting
Among our troops one could see
types OF all races. and one might say
Of all colors. from negroes TO even
our Indians: their diversity makes Il
necessary for the censors attached TO ]
the divisions Of military correspond !
ence to know IS languages and dia- |
lects.
Nearby. we went 70 a naval avia- /
ton camp. where the aviators wear I
somber gray uniforms and the insig- I
MIA Of the marine. which is very ]
beautiful and makes a striking con-
trast with the usual blue Of naval 1
uniforms Since the beginning OF the I
war our aviation has developed Won |
derfully, IL one remembers that in !
1914 there was not a single airplane I
factory in the United States.
sketch Of Admiral Wilson.
Admiral Wilson is young, smooth i
shaven. OF a tail and well built fig
ure. quick. active. intelligent. capable, +
giving the impression OF great physi- I
cal. mental and technical strength. 3
dominated by a strong WILL an I
touched with much subtleuess and &
great personal charm
His offices are located next to the
marine quarters in the same build D
ing. which show how close the rela- I
tons are between the two marines /
Admiral Wilson gave high praise
TO the French navy and to his neigh /
Dor. the project Of marines. He spoke I
to me about the great pleasure he
found in cooperating with him. He