Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-03-17
InSpects Largest Terminal in
Europe From Flat Car Con-
verted Into Observation Car
While He Ate His Luncheon.
TRAINING CAMP OF
HEAVY GUNS VISITED
Officers Who Have ASSimiIat-
ed Modern Warfare to Be
Sent Home to Make Place
for Others In Need of It,
tsr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED w,asI


On Board Secretary Bakers Special
Train in France, Thursday, March IA
'By the Associated Press) Newton
d. Baker, the secretary of war, spent
large part of the day in a rude OBJ
servation car, which was only flat
car hastily fitted at the luncheon hour
with pine benches.
The car traversed the railway yards
of the American forces, which spread
over the lowlands bordering a certain
water front in France. The yards
will be the biggest thing of the kind
in Europe when misunderstanding
to bring railway engineers from afar
in France to see.
The trackage will be 22S miles and
will provide for $500 incoming cars
and $500 outgoing cars, as well as
5000 on the interior switches.
Details Are Explained.
r. General Pershing and Brigadier
General Atterbury explained them in
abundant detail as flat car with Sec
retary Baker was drawn slowly over
the trunk and switching lines during
the afternoon. A dozen or more
French and American engineers were
in the party, some of whom were
members of the engineering staff
which constructed the yards, and they
added a point now and then to Gen
eral Pershing's explanation.
Dredges are constantly at work
along the water front and nearby the
warehouses of steel and galvanized
iron are rising along the switching
arteries. This development is purely
for American military requirements
and will provide rather small port in
France with potentialities equal to
those of Hamburg, as one of the
French officials said to the corre-
spondent.
Return of Officers.
1t is intended to have General Per-
shing return to this country in de-
tachments of thirty the officers who,
in his opinion have assimilated the
details of modern warfare from the
actual association with front line op-
erations on the American sectors.
The first increment will be from the
officers who have been longest in
France. These will be replaced by an
equal number of officers trained here
in general staff work and in inter-
change of information would be es.
tablished between the department and
the fighting forces which officials be-
lieve will be productive to smooth ad-
ministration.
Presumably. qualified officers of
o. tot MI
been wounded or otherwise incapaci-
tated for active duty at the front will
be assigned wherever possible to duty
in Washington during the period of
recuperation, their services and ex-
perience therby being of continuous
value to the government.
To Head Training Units.
In this connection it is learned that
in accord with the practice found de-
sirable in Europe, incapacitated line
officers will be gradually placed in
charge of all training units, replace
ment divisions and other military
agencies in the United States which
require the supervision of trained mill
itary men.
That process already has begun
with the assignment of a number Of
major generals physically unfit for
service in France to divisions training
in this country.
At heavy artillery training camp
Secretary Baker saw a battery of long
range large caliber guns put into po-
stion. They were swung over by au-
tomobile tractors and shallow recoil
trenches were quickly dug, but with
unerring methods. Mr.. Baker took a
stand close to one of the great pieces
and followed the explanations Of the
major in command.
Baker Looks Through Gun
1t was one of the new guns from
French workshop and of a type with
which the American artillerists are
already making a reputation on the
front.
The secretary had been told by
French officers of the skill of the
American gunners in handling this
weapon, in the management Of which
the French artillerists heretofore had
considered themselves unexcelled.
Mr.. Baker became so interested that
he mounted the chief gunner's stand
and looked through the sight and
watched the adjustment of the piece
to the range markings.
The Americans with the object only |
of winning the war, are expending in
this region on permanent works about |
$40, 900, 900. French ports will be
expanded as they probably would not
have been for good many years if
the war was not going on.
See Locomotives Assembled.
Secretary Baker Watched for some
time in another yard the assembling |
and setting up of the parts of Ameri-
can built locomotives He saw a |
series Of them in various stages of |
completeness One hundred and |
seventy-two have been put together |
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