New-York tribune., 1918-03-05
Congestion Threatens to
Interfere Seriously With
Army Shipments
Terminals, Started
Late, Incomplete
Vessels Slow in Unloading;
40 Per Cent of Cargoes
Held Back
[SIaf Correspondence


WASHINGTON, March 4.-Failure of
the quartermaster's department of the
army to develop adequate facilities at
the French ports to handle supplies
shipped overseas to Pershing's army
has aISady choked the docks and the
nartiv completed terminals and is
seriously interfering with the army
supply programme. according to relia-
ble information laid before members of
the Senate Military Affairs Committee
While the United States could find
use for additional tonnage in other
channels, q we'll informed member of
the Senate stated to-day that even if
the Shipping Board doubled the ton
mage at the disposal of the War De-
nartnent at once it could not be used
by the army authorities. This Senator
declared that the much mentioned
neck Of the bottle" was now at the
docks and terminals into which Amer
ican supplies are being shipped. The
army quartermaster's corps is not able
to move into the interior more than
50 per cent of the supplies being
poured daily into the French ports by
American vessels, he stated, and there
is already a congestion which matches
that of the Port of New York at its
worst.
Terminal Work Delayed
Reciting the causes which have
stor declared:
"When the army commenced to de-
veop its organization and administra-
tive machinery in France, late last sum-
mer, it first turned its attention to the
construction Of supply depots in the
interior. Then it undertook the con
st-uction of several hundred miles Of
railroad, meantime casually commenc-
ing the construction of port and ter
minal equipment. This latter equip
ment, which, with seaboard storage
facilities, was the most important of
ELL, was left until the last.
Interior supply depots, which could
aave waited, were rushed Railroads,
Of course. necessary, but not so essen
tial as port facilities, were also rushed
The port improvements and installa-
tons waited. The existing congestion.
which IS effectively blocking "the neck
O. the bottle" is the result.
Must Be Stored Here
II the War Department had rushed
the construction of docks and ternni
nal storehouses in the French ports.
American supplies could be advanced
a' ra,ldly as ships could make the
reuHd I'm. Any quantity could ne
stored - tie French seaboard ternli-
,ais. TO be drawn upon as rapidly as
ne facilities for moving them into the
interior and the needs for their con-
Sumption arose.
However. as things stand now. the
HpplIes must be stored in America.
100 miles away. until the existing
caaos at the terminals is cleared away
+lread- this chaos has slowed down
ne transport operations of the too few
.Alps available for overseas TRANSPORT.
sessels are compelled 20 wait for dock
NJ. which reduces the efficiency of our
sPhnage tremendously. II they do no.
"ait Tor docks they are compelled TO
unload TO barges ana lighters. which
'Hvotves double handling of the car
goes and involves delays equally as
Dad
1t Is impossible to tighten the bur
cen At the French ports by divertins
sofle of the supplies to English ports
-p- transport across the Channel, be-
cause every square inch Of docks and
criminals IN England IS monopolized
og the gigantic port operations neces-
sary 70 keep the British army in Fan
Gers supplied
Definite Programme Lacking
One Of the greatest shortcomings
81 the War Department has been It's
azure TO call into consultation, early
IN !, the var, officials OF the Shipping
DoaFd and map out a definite pro-
siamme for the overseas transport OF
men and materials.
Not until we had been at war for
yer SIX months did the War College
HrsE Undertake systematic cooperation
Sitn the Shipping Board. Before that
me quarte masters department made 4
2'actlce Of presenting extravagant de
@iahcs for tonnage as the needs arose
me entire overseas programme until
ae4y has been one which has ignored
me future.
SOW the War Department is reap
.hZ the III harvest its shorts GIFTED
.'s"S planted, and the country is cor.
foneed With the anomalous situation.
sDrne out BY statements from respon
ts'le sources that the War Department
81 u had double its present tonnage,
s'1id not use II on account Of the
'@cz pf terminal facilities liz France"