The Nenana daily news., 1918-05-08

his conferences with French states men and American generals at the capital has been to begin to study what the Americans are doing and 1 ought to do in France by survey of great port department. q am still absorbing" said he at the end of fourteen-hour day. "I must say frankly that I did not know the immensity of the enter prise which we have undertaken in opening new ports, and when I see what we have accomplished here I am satisfied"
 The American war secretary at the particular port in question was attended by Gen. Pershing, Major Gen. Black, Brig. Gen Atterbury and the officers of the engineers who have been creating a vast new equipment for docking and unload ing ships.
 The secretary walked three miles along the American army's dock front, already constructed or in pro- cess of construction, as an exten- sion to the berths for a number of ships placed at the disposition of the Americans by the French gov ernment. Two miles of this new sea frontage was marsh on October l last. The ground has been filled in from dredgings in deepening the water-fronts and ships are already alongside some of these new berths. On other parts of the frontage con- creted warehouses are going up and great system of switches has been laid or is being laid.
 q like to come ut here once week." said a colonel of the engin- eers to the correspondent, land see how different things look from what they did the week before. I almost lose my way"
 40 Big Ships Can Unload at Once
 This new dockage with two other new frontages being developed in connection with it, will allow of forty large, or sixty medium sized steamers to be unloaded simultan- eously. l Mr. Bakers questions were ire quent, penetrating and often tech nical when the engineers were ex- plaining the railway plexus connect ing the various ports with the bases in the interior. He asked particu- larly about grades, so as to estimate the requirement in engine power and the heaviness of loads. He rather astonished the engineers by the de- tailed character of his questionings, which touched the very problems that bother them most.
 At a heavy artillery training camp Secreary Baker saw battery of long range large calibre guns put into position. They were swung over by automobile tractors and shallow recoil trenches were dug quickly but with unerring method. Mr. Baker took a stand close to one of the great pieces and followed the explanations of the major in com mand. It was one of the new guns from a French workshop and of a type with which the American ar tillerists are already making rep utation on the sectors at the front.
 Sights Giant Gun In Camp.
 The secretary had been told by French officers of the American gunners' skill in handling this wea- pon, in the management of which the French artillerists heretofore had considered themselves unexcelled. MT. Baker became so interested that he mounted the chief gunner's stand, looked through the master sight and watched the adjusting of the piece to the range markings.
 The secretary train arrived at an important town near the port at Is o'clock in the morning. The prefect of the department, the French gen eral commaf ..g the district, and numerous American officers were there to welcome him. His reception was simple. The band, as secretary