Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-17
BAKER VISITS BASE
| OF AMERICAN ARMY
Secretary of War Is more Than
Satisfied With Wonderful
Progress Made"
NEGRO GETS MORE BREAD
General Pershing Conducts Chief
Over Immense Depot in
French Seaport.
NEGRO GETS MORE BREAD

WITH SECRETARY OF WAR
BAKER AT 4 FRENCH PORT. March
i3 tvia Paris. March .6).-Ncwton G.
Baker. Secretary Of War Of tho United
States. to-day began in earnest gath
crinS frst-liand information about the
war. lie spent all day inspecting this
important port, accompanied by GEN
erals PcrShnE. Black and httcrbury.
Upon tho conclusion OF a tcn-hour tour
Mr.. Baker declared:
IL frankly admit now that | have
had my first chance 10 go over one
of our bases that this is a bigger uu-
dcrtaking than ] realized. ! must say
that am more than satisfied with
the wonderful progress made.
II am just beginning to soak up
the impressions have obtained OF
actual conditions prevailing in France"
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
GREET WAR SECRETARY
Secretary Baker arrived at this port
in special nine-car train furnished
by the French government. lie got up
at $50 in the morning, when the plans
for the day were submitted TO him.
As he stepped off the train he received
a rous.nE ovation. lie was greeted
by the local authorities. y battalion
Of the American cypeditiCnary force
stood in line. its band playing to the
colors as the secretary. General Per-
shins at his side. stood bareheadcd re-
ceiving the inspiring salute.
The party motorcd OF TO inspect the
docks. which are three miles long and
capable Of accommodating sixty yes
sells. Everything here has been built
UP by Yankee industry. Mr.. Baker
walked the entire length. bravely keep
ing up with pcrshing'5 long military
stride. The War Secretary took the
ieercst interest in everything he saw.
and all was thoroughly explained TO
him. General Pershing pointed out the
main bases OF distribution. Mr.. Baker
plunged enthusiastically through the
sand. stepped over the trcstle work and
climbed UP the many construction
ladders.
WAREHOUSES COVER
THREE SaUAUE MILES
Next the party visited huge ware
house depot covering three square
miles, stopping At the last camp. which
accommodates 1000 men. Here they
arrived At the mess hour.
Air. Baker personally questioned the
darkT stevedores. who. not knowing
the little man in civilian clothes, AN
swered freely. declaring the food was
good and plentiful. except that one OF
them asserted "dcy wouldn't give me
neither piece O. bread. Nh likes noah
bread when ah wants H."
:Ir. Baker saw to il that the gen
tleman from the sunny South got his
bread. although ne had already re
ccivcl his ration.
The secretary then Inspected the base
hospital, the largest in the world. hav-
ing 10000 beds.
In the afternoon he visited the big
artillery camp. where the eunncrs un-
limbereI the siX-inchers, reporting
ready 10 fire within TWO minutes
after they had taken their places. AIR.
Baker nodded his approval. and asked
TO have the gun mechanism explained
tc him also questioning the men as TO
the results Of the target fire.
Then the party went over TO the re-
mount station and looked over some
newly arrived horses.
Mr.. Baker showed no fatigue after
thoroughly going over the whole pert
After the strenuous ten-hour day the
train. which is the War Secretary's
home" this week. pulled out. taking
Mir. Baker and his party to another
port which he will inspect Tomorrow.