Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-27

nave u caring
10000 cases. 1t can now care for
between six and seven thousand. Both
plants are near completion. The plans
when finally worked out will provide
accommodation for three-fifths of the
military establishment maintained by
the United States on European soil
1t Is II gigantic task. this making
new city for the care of both the sick
and well, but 1t is one that the men
intrusted with the work believe they
can accomplish under the most un.
favorable circumstances.
AS II assumes the form of it's chief
importance all European roads will
lead to Brest
To Keep the Well Diverted.
The big thing, as the responsible
officials view it, Is to provide the
healthy men with diversion to keeL
them not only out of mischief but in
good spirits while waiting for trans
portation Men who have been living
next door to death and constantly un.
der the thunder Of great guns are
finding HE at detention and intern
ment camps rather uninteresting. II
Is the purpose Of the officials respOn'
sible for their welfare to keep them
occupied so that they will not miss
the tImult of war or brood too much
upon the delay of getting home.
Up to date the chief occupation OF
the 10000 men who are centered here
has been confined to speculation as to
dates of departure and taking u close
up view of the few attractions OF
Brcst.
Some idea Of the native entertain
mcnt is furnished by the fact that
there is only one moving picture show
in the town. Severe restrictions are
placed upon the ventures of the
doughboys in the night life of this
ancient burg. The girls of Brest are
not particularly attractive, Their
faces IRE not lacking in qualities OF
classical beauty, although their hands
and feet are not the sort that inspire
the sculptor or painter to reproduce
them in mud, marble or on canvas.
The military police keep u pretty
sharp eye on the men In Ahaki, and
the penalties for infrnctions Of army
law are pretty severe.
The doughboyS make light of the
mud. their well shod feet squash into
1t, and their comfortable clothes re-
sist the penetration of the mist that
floats over and around the FHnisterrt
peninsula There is little or no dis
comfort from cold, because while
much further north than New York.
BreSt catches the eastern end of the
Gulf stream, and the temperature
rarely falls below 30 and most fire.
uuentIy huctunteS between 40 and 30
The men are well fed and comfort
ably housed. The mothers of some ol
them would probably raise theiI
hands in horror at one or two features
of their daily life, but the health re-
ports of the camp furnish substantial
proof that the precautions taken by
the government are working out much
more satisfactorily than the regimen
inspired by home influence.
The army and navy officials point
with pride to the fact that In one day
$4,000 American troops debarked at
Brcst, and that during the next day
5000 were added to the total. T!..s
means that an aggregation of fighting
men one.half the size of the mobile
army of the United States four years
ago was dumped into the mud at
Brest by convoy Of the most i'm
pressive ships that ever sailed the
main-the Leviathan, Mount Wash
ington, President Grant, George
Washington, President Lincoln, La
France, Paris and the Lutetia.
Medical Regulations Rigid.
The medical regulations that prevail
In the chief American military de-
oarkation port are most rigid. No
soldier Is permitted to enter or leave
the camp without a thorough exami
nation and when he receives his ticket
to go aboard ship to 90 home he must
be 100 per cent physically.
Arriving by train from interior
points his clothing Is taken from him
and is subjected to II process that
precludes the possibility of infection
or insect life. He gets complete
new outfit and many other convent
ences that were not possible while
he was up near the fighting line.
The facilities for handling the
troops sent to this point for transfer
to ships is about as complete as a
staff of railroad experts can make it.
1t is far superior to French railroad
facilities. Not the least share of the
tremendous undertaking Of receiving
and transporting the American fight
ing men falls to the humble steve
dores, dock wallpapers, road makers
truck drivers and general rousta
bouts, colored as well as white.
There is intense rivalry between
the nine American ports established
In France for the honor of breaking
the record Of unloading ah1 forward
ing material and supplies to the
armies of occupation. This contest
is known as the race to Berlin" in
which Brest leads. No fighters ever
worked harder than do the dock men,
lighter men and stevedores In trying
for this prize, which is to be shared
jnsby all the men Of the winning port.