South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-24
5O[DIERS like
ENTERTAINMENT
Of SERIOUS KIND
Fifty Percent of American
Troops at BreSt Have
Been Sent Home.
BY JAMES L. GARDINER.

Wnere the conditions OF climate and
soil were so unfriendly?
In order that we might secure a
correct and satisfactory answer 10
this question We put the matter be-
fore an officer at the base headquar-
tiers here. who made this reply.
Before the signing or the armls-
tice. there were two compelling rea-
sons why Brest In spite Of certain
disadvantage was chosen as a port
for the landing Of troops from the
United States
First in the judgment OF the
British and United States naval au-
thorities. Brest was the safest port
from the standpoint OF submarine
warfare
Second, IL was the only port Of
France that would admit large con
voys OF American soldiers. sometimes
as many as $1,000 in one convoy.
and it is one OF the few ports in the
world. and the only port in France
that would admit the Leviathan.
improvements at Camp.
Since the signing OF the armis-
tice. the first OF these two factors
has been removed, but the last re-
mains and is OF itself conclusive.
Therefore all the natural disadvant-
ages Of the terrain around Brest had
To be brought into submission by ar
tifciality, through the construction
OF water and electric light systems.
buildings, roads. docks and miles
upon miles of board walks"
There are at Brest 1--WE small
rhar
900 permanent troops These consist
Of stevedore and labor troops engl-
neer troops. special quartermaster
units, motor transport troops, port
de commerce permanent guard and
German prisoners Of war These men
are all employed in activities neces-
sary for the operation OF the port
These smaller camps also take care
of a few thousand casual officers and
enlisted men en- route 10 the United
States
The big camp at Brest Is called
Camp POntanezen. which can accom-
modate 10000 men. In fact the past
week more than this mum Der for sew
eral days we're lodged in this camp.
Receiving Camp Holds 10000.
Camp POntanezen is the camp
which receives all divisions and or
ganizations (not casuaIs) directed to
proceed to the United States by way
of Brest. from which city the camp
Is distant about three and a half
miles. During the past two or three
weeks we have seen some 100000
men come and go. There is "A de-
partment-the troop movement de
partment-whose duty il is 20 keep
the flow OF troops from the LeMans
area into and out OF Pontanezen.
without Crowding either camp or
ships All members Of the A L. +.
i'm order 20 board a vessel. must be
checked on ship through this de-
partment and once on board are
not allowed 10 return. II is through
this method that accurate lists ac-
companying the ships and are re-
tanned at the port From Dec. 8. 1918
TO May L. 1919. 1885, men were
passed through this department
Individuals Not Forgotten.
The United States army in France
at one time numbered two million
men and yet in spite Of this fact the
individual soldier was not forgotten.
The army is not managed in mass
but as individuals. Every man must
stand upon his own record and en-
dure frequent inspections. Long be-
fore the soldier reaches Brest he has
learned the necessity of being ready
at any moment for military inspec~
tion. When he reaches Camp Pom
tanezen he finds that before he
physical inspection. inspection OF
records. OF company funds and or
equipment. The first physical inspec-
ton takes place as soon as possible
after the organization arrives in
camp and a similar one follows ev.
cry Eve days that the organization
remains in camp. Happy the young
man who has kept himself clean in
body and is pronounced by the ply
sicians physically MT TO return TO the
United States.
Very Few Left Behind
During the month OF Novem Der.
1918. very few American troops left
Camp Pontanezen for the United
States. Since that time. the num-
Der OF officers and enlisted men
4raNAAAn AAAA1 N4AAAi mas NtEA as l0A
lows: December 29.S1S; January.
59.56S; February. S7a96; March.
107.93S, April, 1855. and May.
64.712. 1t is at the present writing
the ambition OF Brest 10 send home
from this port 100000 members OF
the a. L. r. during the month OF
June.
The troop n vement home is sure
IL being carried on with great ra-
pidity with so per cent sailing from
Brest. % percent from ST Nazaire.
Is percent from Bordeaux. percent
from al! other points i'm France and
percent from England and Italy.
Our Present Opportunity.
Thus. during these weeks which
We are spending az Brest ] am hav-
ing the opportunity Of speaking 10 so
percent OF all troops returning 20
the United states. And never have
We had greater privilege not one ]