Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-19
BAKER IS SATISFIED
WITH WHAT He SEES
IN FRANCE, He SAYS
~ Did Not Know the lmmen-
sity of the Enterprise We
.1Have Undertaken" Secre-
tary Tells interviewer

ii ON BOARD SECRETARY BAKERS
SPECIALS TRAIN IN FRANCE. We'd
nesday March 13.-(By the Associated
Press. Secretary Bakers first work
after his conferences with the French
statesmen and American generals at
The capital has been to begin his study
of what the Americans are doing and
ought to do in France by survey OF
a great port department.
( II am still absorbing" said he at
the end of a fourteen-hour day. II
must say frankly that ] did not know
the immensely of the enterprise wnicn
we have undertaken IN opening new
ports and when 1 see what we have ac-
complished here l am satisfied"
The American war secretary at the
particular port in question was attend
cd by General Pershing, Major-GeneraI
William NJ Black, Brigadier-General ".
w. Atterbury and the officers of the
engineers who have been creating a
vast new equipment for docking and
unloading ships. The secretary walked
for three miles along the American
army dock front, already constructed
or in process of construction, as an
extension to the berths for a number
of ships placed at the disposition of
the Americans by the French govern
ment. Two miles of this new sea
frontage consisted of marshes on Oc-
tober 1st last. The ground has been
filed in from dredgings in deepening
the waterfronts and ships are already
alongside some Of these new berths. On
other parts of the frontage concerted
warehouses are going up and a great
system of switches has been laid or
is in the course of being laid.
Sixty Ships May Dock
81 like to come out here once a
week." said a colonel of the engineers
to the correspondent, land see how diff
ferent things look from what they did
the week before. 1 almost lose my
way"
This new dockage, with two other
new frontages that are being deve1-
oped in connection with it, will allow
of forty large, or sixty medium-sized
steamers to be unloaded simulta-
neously.
Mr.. Bakers questions were frequent,
penetrating and often technical, when
the engineers were explaining the rail-
way plexus connecting the various
ports with the interior bases. He ask
ed particularly about grades, so as to
estimate the requirements in engine
power and the heaviness of loads. At
heavy artillery training camp Secre-
tary Baker saw a battery of longA
range caliber guns put into position.
Mr.. 3axer took a stand close 10 one of
the great pieces and followed the ex-
plantations of the major in command.
1t was one of the new guns from
French workshop and of a type with
which the American artilleryists are
already making a reputation at the
front.
Mounts Gunner's Stand
The secretary had been told by
French officers of the skill of the
American gunners in handling this wea-
pom, in the management of which the
French artillerists heretofore had con-
sidered themselves unexcelled. Mr.,
Baker became so interested that he
mounted the chief gunner's stand ana
looked through the master sight and
watched the adjustment of the piece to
the range markings.
The secretary's train arrived at an
important town near the port at 8
o'clock in the morning. The project of
commanding the district and numerous
American officers were there to well
come him. His reception was simple
The band, as Secretary Baker and Gen.
eral Pershing issued from the station,
sounded the salute to the colors, and a
battalion of American soldiers stood at
salute. That was the only ceremony
of the day except a small review of the
troops at the artillery camp.
Official lunches and dinners are, by
the secretary's request omitted from
his program. He and General Pershing
remain abroad the train at night ana
spend most of their travelling days in
business