New-York tribune., 1918-05-04
10000 Tons Of Material
Handled in April,
Says Official
500, 600, 900 Months
Salary Budget
Kerney, Director of War
Committee, Praises the
Troops Enthusiasm
(By The Associated Press)

AN AMERICAN BASE IN FRANCE
nav 3-"Some idea of the wonderful
.rocress that is being made back OF
~. lines" said James Kerney, director
..r the eFranco-American Committee on
p,h,;c information, to The Associated
p-sss to-day, "may be gathered from
tho simple announcement that 100000
..,s of material were handled by the
.x.rsnortation department in April. as
...;rst less than half that amount
in January.
~The storage facilities for three
,,onths' complete supplies for an army
If two million :,en are almost finished.
We are operating five thousand miles
- wire. Big docks and railroad yards
rsn;dly are nearing completion. Up
wards of s1Oo,OO0,0O0 were paid out
IN France alone last month by the
ousrtermaster General"
Mr.. Kerney was speaking of what
IA nersonally had seen in two weeks
If what the American army had done
and is doing in France.
Nearing Full Stride"
America" Mr.. Kerney continued, us
rspidly growing into its full' stride.
The gigantic operations generally are
now proceeding so eXpeditlously and
smoothly as to make it easier for the
neople of France to appreciate just
how determined we are to see 1T
through. The best part of 1t all IS
that in this wonderful romance OF
transporting men and supplies and
construction material 5000 miles over
seas. the health of the troops has been
lent at such a high level. There has
been some disease incident to over
crowdii1g at times, but no man has
had to sleep out of doors.
"The general health of the men is
now most excellent. The number OF
men who have been unable to go on
active duty because of sickness was
AZ ner 1000 for the week ended April
1S. which is a lower rate than prevails
in the United States. Ours is the only
army that goes into fighting with hot
coffee as a stimulant. It's a proud
thing for any country to have produced
such wholesome and healthy lnstltu-
ton as the brave American army in
France"
Troops Enthusiastic
Mr.. .Kerney then spoke of q visit he
had made to the American troops at the
front.
Everywhere" he said, 81 found en-
thusiasm over the steady courage and
ready adaptability of the Americans.
0ra of @ba {,,h mo
was the declaration Of a very distin-
guished French officer that the sea-
soned soldier of France was eager to
fight alongside the Americans. whose
bravery and faculty for learning have
quickly won the affectionate admiration
OF their comrades in arms.
"The French officers are amazed at
the cheerful way in which the Ameri-
cans have accomm odated themselves to
the rigid discipline necessary to this
kind of warfare. Our men, they say
face the grim job with the rarest good
nature and determination. The work
of assimilation with the older armies
has been easy. From General Pershing
down to the privates the single idea
prevails of making this finish fight
against the Hun"
punch" Not Lacking
while the army naturally does not
yet rank among the first of the highly
eIcient military machines, it does rep
resent the finest pluck and punch of
america translated into action" said
Ar. kerney. incidentally, with the de-
Veiopments that are taking place at the
stan school, it promises soon to be pro-
vlded with the necessary officers to en-
aple 1T to assume its proper place in
this war"
Mr.. Kerney said the wisdom of con-
sructlng great work that spreads
over all Western and Central France
anu back of the lines already is amply
justified.
Everywhere the American soldier
mas plenty of clothing to meet the
svarying climatic conditions" said he.
There is no shortage in rubber boots
OF warm shirts. Food is abundant and
supplies of all kinds are such as to
t,eiieve any worry on that score. The
hospital trains kept at the battle
.lont are said to be the finest in the
.or'd. The field hospitals are so To-
.s1eo that American soldiers are on
me operating tables and under treat
M9scu by the best surgical skill within
t.om Tour to eight hours after they
nave we been wounded.
everything, in other words, that it
aas Deen humanity possible to furnish
.nere, and the morale of the fight
ng man is the highest"
NOW and then there is complain,
Sos SSsHas mail coming slowly, but that is
SSs'ng remedied," he added. at must
~ -. remembered that good kickers usu.
any make good fighters.
-. Ml. herney's trip to the battlefront
tss. made in company with representa-.
.,ss snass OF the French universities anc
IN Is provincial newspaper publishers
vsv vsaeI TO have Americas effort in the
Of ;,,,ter petter known in France series
" illustrated lectures is being piver
T. 'ne universities, showing just what
ST.. Sss Deen accomplished by the Unitec
wa ass IN making ready to carry the