The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-09-04
AMERICANS MAKING
A FRENCH PORT over
GIGANTIC OPERATIONS NECESSARY FOR OUR MEN
TO GET At THE GERMANS

1Ai lAhiOlANAA O1e III
France Correspondence of the As
sociated Press i'm no section of
France are the people more enthus
iastic over the coming of Americans
than at this great receiving port for
American soldiers. German propagan-
dists at first spread the idea that the
Americans were coming to take pos
session, settle down and stay; but all
this now has passed.
Along the country roads, the pass
ing of Americans is the signal for
demonstration, with peasant children
scattering flowers and cheering "Vive
les Americans"
It has required much diplomacy on
the part of the American command
ers, military and naval, to preserve
and develop the international spirit
among all the foreign and native ele-
ments.
Now the central square of the port
has been renamed "Place President
Wilson," On the two national holi-
days, July and IA, all combined to
do honor to the American command
ers and Americans. presenting them
silken flags and flowers and bronze
statues.
The socialist political element is
strong in these parts, and this too
has required tact on the part of the
American commanders. When a re-
cent buffet supper was given, it was
arranged that French and Americans
should be represented by all branches
of their service, privates as well as
officers, in the true spirit of democra-
cy and social equality. And so each
side selected as guests 10 officers, 10
non-commissioned officers and 10 pri-
Yates. 1t was the same for the navy.
The English also came in, officers
and men on the same basis.
And thus this international gath
ering of social equality was carried
out, American, French and British
generals and admirals mingling fa-
maliarly with American bluejackets
and soldiers and French and British
tars. There was no patronizing of
/ the higher ranks over the lower, but
a real getting together in common
work in which all ranks were doing
| their part.
The mayor of the city was deeply
| impressed with this manifestation in
which the newcomers from America
took the lead. and the venerable
French admiral. an officer of the old
school, proved himself one of the
most agreeable hosts of American
sailors and marines.
| There have been some huge prob
lens to work out in making this such
an effective American receiving point.
At first there was no fresh water ex-
cept from few uncertain springs.
!, With hundreds of thousands of sol
diers on the way here a safe and sure
water supply was imperative. Soon
there will be reservoir storing fifty
million gallons, capable of supplying
an army, the American naval ships
and transports, and the port itself,
for one month if not drop of rain
falls.s Besides direct mains to the
army camps, there are 12-inch mains
leading to the seafront, with connec-
tions to our destroyers and shipping
in the harbor, pumping fresh water
to ships at sea.
On the water front one notices that
the big American warehouses are
covered with strange hieroglyphics
These it turns out are shipping adj
/ dresses and crate markings, as all
the lumber in this array of buildings
lis from crates and boxes bringing
army supplies. Some of these crates
carrying cars were immense, with
planking and heavy timbers. Every
board and beam was saved. for lum-
Der is very scarce here. and even the
nails were drawn and saved. And
out of this waste lumber and nails
have arisen most of these mammoth
buildings marked from end to enc
with shipping addresses.
| Besides the immense work of re.