New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02
Ancient Fortress Is G0bs
Home on The French Coast
Brown Ruins of Historic Structure at Bresi
Converted lnio Modern Naval Station,
Where Huge American Army Was UnloadeeI

forts, and instead of wearing the skin
of the first wild goat that crossed his
path he wears the uniform OF a senior
lieutenant, U. S. N, who by his
command of a station is called cap
tain" And it was no shipwreck which
put him there, but rather the cold and
unromantic official orders of his su-
perior, Vice Admiral Henry B. Wilson,
5. N, commanding the United States
naval forces in France
However, alike to the story of Robin
son Crusoo, this officer has made CT
this historic citadel modern rcceiv-
ing barracks and training station, and
as it stands reminder of how we'll
Caesar laid its foundations, to be com
/ plctcd by Napoleon, so it will always
! be monument to naval officers re-
sourcetulness, ingenuity and unceasing
energy. The officer is Lieutenant John
officer of what Brest calls "The
Chateau" and which the navy refers
TO as "Carola Barracks"
Chief Army Port
War made great port of activity
out of Brest. Nature had laid gem
erously the markings for the fortifying
/ of this thrifty town and every genera
ton of Brittany has made more of this
material. When America entered the
war 1t became the busy port of dcbark-
alton, just as it is now, and will be the
place of embarkation until the last
soldier and sailor has gone home. Here
( the transports have landed their thou
I sands Of fighting men; here the navy
here have passed Sa "a" the a sea- fn ghefs
! for the coast of France, and these
same walls have sheltered the sur
vivors of United States vessels that
were torpedocd.
Long before one has reached the
breakwatcr, which extends from the
/ entrance into the port of Brcst, the
massive circular towers of the old for
tress known as "The Chateau" rise
above the narrow neck which leads to
the harbor. Its massive masonry, it's
long encircling wall and its granite
buildings bring up imaginative pictures
koi old days of Roman conquest. Yet
Ithls soon changes when ono gets a
glimpse of American blueiackets on
the parapcts and then the folds of the
Stars and Stripes above it. The walls
extend upward from the waters edge
IN granite masonry, an all defending
structure in the way far bygone times
but what would have been house of
cards to the eight American dread
q lew days ago stood by TO salute an
American navy ship which carried the
American navys commander in chief
President Wilson; and this fortress
whose foundations were laid by Caesar
and completed by Napoleon, saluted a
ship named the George Washington
and paid homage to a President Of the
United States. Surely doth the order
of things change.
Liberty Watches Over All"
AT the entrance to the chateau there
is little park and monument to
Rousseau. The great gateway is still
guarded by the French, while in
courtyard good old-fashioncd home
made "gobs" going through the DAILY
Dozens" just as if it were Great Lakes
or Newport. From the little park te
the northeast extends the shaded
Cours dAjat, along which President
Wilson passed amid cheering thou
sands on his way to the peace confer
encc, while at the summit Of the hill
which is greenest or sward, rising te
the heights of the chateau battlcments
there stands abiaze, all in electric
cnlightening the world, fctc day
replica Of the statue Bartholdi gave tc
America for. New York's harbor.
Thus stands the great station of ac
tiv'ty of the big United States nava
establishment on the coast of France
How it was modernized, how it pro
duced another Crusoe, is II tale wortl
telling.
Early in the war it was evident tina,
n receiving barracks, for enlisted mcr
of the navy. situated on the French
coast would be essential in the oper
ations. When Vice Admiral II. b. vii
son, u. s. NJ, assumed command of the
naval forces in France plans were ac
tually made for such an establishment
! The French having offered the 'chatea,
or part of it, for the American navy
use, Lieutenant Pennington was place.
in charge and with little else than hi,
own resourccfu began to turn one
Of the oldest Qualifications in Britain,
into receiving barracks, training
station, patrol headquarters and al
that it should be, That he WAS UP 1,
date in his mcth&is is attestcd by tn,
fact that n small store building an
GENTLY constructed as far back az 1871!
now housea modern up-to- date ane
electrically driven "spudpeeler," which