El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-07

a MEXICAN PORT IN WESTERN
n FRANCE, Sept 3.-(Correspond-
ence OF The Associated Press. THE
spirit which animates all Americans
here is the same as that OF the front
line trenches. It IS an inspiration OF
intense eagerness. This is shown by
the fact that under the stress Of haste
TO send American soldiers TO the
fighting front. the time required TO
unload the greatest OF American
transports bringing 1900 troops. coal
her and start her back to America. has
been reduced from four days 10 40
hours
This is the best deep water port Of
western continental Europe with a
narDor capable Of receiving the navies
OF the world, and yet M TO the time
the Americans came here six months
ago il was practically undeveloped
and unused It was estimated then
that the facilities might possibly per-
NIT the landing Of 10000 men a month.
Meeting the Emergency.
But with 100000 men a month com
ing from America. something had to
be done on a gigantic scale and done
quickly. Fortunately the emergency
produced the men; an American briga-
der general who mas planned and ex-
ecuted some Of the great engineering
projects Of the west. and an American
admiral who has the reputation OF ac-
complishing large things in a quiet
way. Around them were grouped
men OF the same talent
Out OF fl has arisen this mar
Telous receiving port Of today.
where one days landing of $1,000
men has been followed the next
day by 15,OOO-6Os 900 in two days
or Mt the unheard rate Of 100000
month. And the strange thing
has been that the port has not felt
or even known Of the huge migra-
tion passing through its gates. so
quietly and smoothly the Or=ani-
EutiOn has functfoned.
It is the same with the handling Of
the immense stocks OF war supplies as
1t is with the handling OF troops Six /
months ago II was estimated that
5000 tons a month could be handled.
Actually more than that is handled
daily, and this is not the main port
for supplies, as Il IS for men.
Major Is DOekmRster.
A large measure Of credit for the
high record in debarking troops is
given by the general TO the officer
negro steyedores. This officer has
had a remarkable career which ex-
actly euui9s him for the present huge
undertaking. He was a Liverpool dock I
er. who went to the United States with
the Cunard company. and worked up
to the position OF terminal superin-
tendent at Boston. As an expert and
master Of docking he was appointed
a major IN the army. But he fOrgets
all about being a major when he takes
command Of those 1000 black steve
dores and a great ocean steamer
heaves into sight with thousands OF
men aboard who must be landed on
record time. All the old spirit OF the
Liverpool decker comes back again,
he becomes a human dynamo. and the
army Of black stevedores follow him
with the same eagerness that men
follow their leader "over the top
Here are some examples showing Just /
what this means
Fffty-twO Days
When the greatest OF American
transports first came over IL took -
DAYS to unload her At Liverpool The
next trim was better-2S days Then
on the third trip It was decided 70
send her TO this French port where
the Americans had begun to take
things over. It was a risky expert
ment. they thought. But they failed
10 reckon on the major and his black
stevsdores. for this is the remarkable
record OF how the great vessel mas I
been handled at this port;