Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-04
WAR GAVE BIG CHANCE
TO NAVAL LIEUTENANT
Wissahickon Barrack Com
mander Found Opportunity
to Show Worth

The world war has brought opportunity to
many a man who In all probability would
never have had the chance TO prove his real
worth If Uncle Sam had not taken up the
cudgels against the boche.
Captain Paul H. Harrison. commandaut Of
the wssahickon Barracks. the naval train
ing station at Cape May, is a notable case
in point, according to his officers.
The captain made this camp model"
said a member of his staff He created
it out of "A wilderness Of corn fields, under
brush and marsh lands lie proved himself
fine organizer, a splendid executive and
he has Charles NJ Schwab's knack for get
ting men to work with him rather than just
for him, In a word he has produced the
goods"
How lie Got job
The story of how captain Harrison hap-
pened to be given the job of organizing, then
running the Wissahickon Barracks is most
interesting lie is thirty-ilvc years uf age
and a member of the coast guard service,
considered by many the hardest working
branch of the Government service, but which
gets the least publicity. An effort to induce
the captain to talk about himself while
visiting the barracks recently failed entirely.
He gave generous praise to all the officers
of his staff, he spoke feeling OF the esprit
de CORPS and cooperation OF the enlisted
men, he told in detail the work the camp
was doing, but of himself and his part in
raising a small city on the formerly deserted
shores of Cape May harbor he colud not be
induced to talk
But the members Of his staff however,
were emphatic in giving the skipper, as
theA affectionatey call him, full credit for
the smooth-running machine he has bGlt in
less than year and literally from the
ground up.
Was Good Oaicer
And, briefly stated, this is the tale his
officers tell. 1t seems that the captain, who
had served on both the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
was stationed on the West coast when the
United States declared war on Germany.
He had good record had always carried
cut his orders in efficient fashion. but the
chances were slim that ne would ever have
had a wider field for his talents if the war
had not opened the way.
He at once asked - be transferred to the
East coast and to be assigned to active sea
duty. lie very shortly received orders TO
report to the commandaht of the Fourth
Naval District at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard.
on reporting at the navy yard he was
assigned to duty as instruction officer at the
Seamens Barracks, where some $500 raw
recruits were assembled. The assignment
was considerable disappointment to Har-
rison, who had hoped for sea duty over
there"
Round the Corner
But as it happened opportunity was walt
ing just around the corner, though Camou-
hassd. 1t appears that affairs at the bar
racks had not been running to the satsfac-
ticn of the comnandant who was anXiously
looking for man to whip it into shape.
one Of his aides knew Captain Harrison
intimately, knew his ability and efficiency,
and suggested that he he given the task of
organizing the instruction course and de-
picting its operation. "he commaudant acted
on this advice and in a few weeks was
greatly gratifcd to find marked Improvement.
So when the time came to put the new
Fourth Naval District Training Station in
commission the name Of Captain r. II. Har-
rison loomed large. lie was put in COM
,mand.