The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-10-08
Vivid Word Picture of Port OF De-
barkation for American
Troops.
HUMAN SIDE IS DESCRIBED
Miracles Worked Here In q Year by
American Eneruy-Mystery Sur
rounds Flight and Return Of
Allied Sea Craft.
By LYNCH.

awaiting and seaplane stations, for
welfare and hospital activities. Dock
work is done by labor battalions, num-
bering 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 car answer the question. Ameri-
can energy does. Cinemas and vaude-
villes are plentiful, a theater leased by
the Y. M. @. A. providing the best en-
tertainment the town a boast.
The principal street Is lined with
shops where Partisan products are GEN.
sored to suit provincial tastes. To
these have been added a multiplicity
OF goods to tempt the keepsake and
souvenir wants of the strangers.
Along the streets that lead from the
rates to the suburbs are "baraques,"
OF 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 Off,
GERS Of the army and navy, marines,
English Tommies, men and women of
the Y. n. 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 sen wall Is always a curl
. crowd Of onlookers. In less than
= year they have seen first a few ship
loads. then more and still more. until
now the weekly debarkation of thou
sands aus little comment.
Let Helnie 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 a smart
naphtha launch Is bringing to shore an
admiral and his stan. The American
speaks:
Suppose the Heinies do get Paris.
what of thatf II they get London.
what Of that7 Hope they don't. for I'd
like to see the old burgs before I go
back to the farm. but that won't make
any difference; so long as we have a
foothold I'm 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-
MON. looks amazed, then relieved. He
had the provincial idea that Paris and
London were the war.
Over the seawall the observer looks
down On the 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 as
much q part Of the port as are storage
warehouses. docks and quays. basins
and breakwaters. Beyond, the eye
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 COMMISSIONS. Here thou.
sands Of negro stevedores work like
. colony Of big. black ants. There are
squads Of Ammannites and Portuguese
Sailors oaths strike the ear. 1t is q
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
Z year.
Inside and outside the breakwaters
= fleets of ocean traffic. transports
conveys, torpedo d~estroyers, patrol ant
fshing boats. sail-steam a~uxiliaries--
craft Of every possible relation to tn,
= |. One day you may count scores o.
ships, and the next hundreds. Mys
tsry covers the flight and return o
these interallied shuttles Of steam an,
steel.
Follow the splendid roads to Brit
itany. by fragrant pasture lands. Yol
VIII ind air stations where American
flyers are hidden. guarding the en-
trance Of the English channel, helping
with convoy and patrol to make tn
U-boat menace q nullity.
Welfare Work.
On the way back, stop at n of tn
clearing houses Of the troops. Let u
kAoose SThe Barracks" familiarl,
called. There are 1900 men here. ]
has housed troops since Napoleon
6ay and before.
~ you stand at the door Of the y
- G. A. canteen, your View takes 4
vast field, all In monotones, brow
earth, brown tents, brown men agains
: background Of green, under a bow
~ al1yeFy blue.
The American flags are flying FIRE
oyoe Ire French casernes. Men, gia
- ooFeteh their sea legs, are drilling
ynaying bah, running, walking. Th
nnlD play nv melodies. So great I
W &A--x- .