New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02

the yacht Garcia was used as an aux
Hilary and moored near the fort, SO the
chateau vas given the name of Garcia
Barracks.
Many Obstacles Overcome
When the old buildings, which are
IDEAL types of the ancient fortified
citadel, many of the steps being carved
out Of solid rock. were turned over to
the navy this task arose like a noun
tain above those in charge 1t was so
Hcrculcan and the fact that it had to
be done when war was in progress
makes an itemized statement of obsta-
cies worthy of record
Dirt that had accumulated for years;
a galley without cooking facilities;
Windows and floors iii bad repair;
No sleeping arrangements;
No sewer SYSTEM;
Very little electricity;
Scarcely any water.
Each one of these items can now be
checked as being up to date and worthy
of comparison with any wartime bar
racks. Thus in such antiquarian and
nigh deserted surroundings this navy
Robinson Crusoe found himself, and,
all available man power being needed
in the fighting line, he also had to be
his own man Friday Then came a
conference and its result was dynamic
There was water everywhere, but none
in the chateau for cleaning and flush
ING. The only thing to do was to lift
the water of the harbor up to the
summit
Lieutenant Pennington started in the
navy as an apprentice boy and has seen
just twenty-five and a half years serv-
ice, so he knew no such word as fail.
A pipe line was at once stretched from
I,nf - IL.
idea in hydraulics this skipper sud
denly put on shore duty had the yachts
pumps sending a steady stream Of
water up to that old fort But the
thrifty sons of Brittany suddenly be-
came vety excited over the fact that a
constant stream of water was being
pumped away from their fine water
front. One officer Informed the chateau
captain that it was against the law to
take water from the sea and pump it
Up hill Lieutenant Pennington at
once sent back word that he knew it
was, but in this instance the water he
was pumping up was returned after he
was through with it. So no more was
said
Foraged for Material
Then with fifty men from ships
based at Brest the place was cleaned.
A range was borrowed from the hospi-
tai and installed. On February 8, 1918.
Garcia Barracks was commissioned.
and the working force laid Off and
slept on hard but clean floor. This
naturally phasized the need of sleep
ing gear. There was none available.
and the kind old lady who mothers in
ventions responded at the icutenant's
command. foraging party located at
the navy yard number of discarded
boiler tubes These were cut into
proper lengths, and after clips had
been welded on made good stanchions.
Smaller tubes were found for sidebars
and hammocks were used for bottoms.
AS fast as material could be obtained
additional sleeping facilities were
added, and these were reinforced later
by standard hunks gotten from trans
ports and the army. Now $500 men can
sleep comfortably at the barracks and
III spotlessly clean quarters.
+ Sewerage problems were solved bv
installing Il modern sewer to the sea,
the work being done by men waiting
tor transfer, and the Garcia pumps
stu kept sending sea water through
the pipe line.
Just as fast as material became avail
able the entire barracks were rewired
again the work being done by mon
awaiting orders. Waiting meant work
ing IN Lieutenant Pennington's vocabu-
larry. Then all of the buildings were
repaired and painted. Immediate in
spectlons were next, so that living con-
ditions would be healthy and sanitary.
a problem then came up in the qucs-
ton as to what to do with the mems
clothes. ~There was no lumber, and
lockers seemed out of the question
but me r;4yy, was shipping in large
quantities to Brest mines to be used in
this and other nearby waters. These
MINES were Grated IN strong, well
planned planks. These planks we're at
once secured, cut to suitable sizes and
set Of fine lockers built in sleeping
quarters. When heat was needed be
tore stoves could be purchased they
we're borrowed from the army, the Red
Cross and the Y. NJ. G.. A.
From the start the fresh water situa.
ton was q problem. This was over
come by connecting to a main used by
the army running to tho Port of Com.
merce, where all of the transports
landed and disembarked their thou.
sands OF troops. The natural pressure
not being sufficient TO force the waite,
up to the chateau, steam launch
boiler and pump were installed at The
barracks and water began to flow up
NIL. This fresh water comes from the
Penield River, on the army line, sew
cral miles from the city. Naval per
sonnet was sent to operate the pumps
So that for months the barracks have
not had to call upon the city for water
Movies" With Music
Livab!e quarters having been pro
vldcd, with good mess and plenty o
. water, relaxation was The next item t,
be taken up. An old stable was auickl,
converted INTO combination motor
picture theatre and church. Last night
with an audience that filled the theatre
the writer saw fine movie" show the
feature of which were two films mad,
| liz In Ahlila1