Evening star., 1920-02-01
Washingtonian;s Energy, Capacity and
Res0wCef1lness Contributed to
American Success in War.
First u S. Army officer to Enter German
CAPITAL After Arnisfice Already Had
COMPLETED Projects Amid Difficulties.
ny e.. FRED COOK.

vi the LftSfueiit, Oh August w. A'AN'
in general orders No. 1o3. announced
an award of the distinguished service
medals. as follows:
George II. Harries. AS COM
manding general base section
successfully directed activities at
port of Brest during time when
troop arrivals were at maximum.
Overcame seemingly insurmounta-
BILE obstacles in co-ordinatinE and
organizing his important task
Subsequently, upon being sent on
special mission to Berlin in con-
nection with repatriation allied
prisoners of war displayed COM
nnendable tact and energy
The medal was presented by Gen.
Pershine at general headquarters,
Chaumont.
The first American officer to enter
Berlin after the signing of the armi-
stice. something has been told III
magazine articles of the experiences
of Gen. Harries there. and elsewhere
in Germany. and of the "commenda-
lie tact and energy displayed py
MIN in connection with the repatrla-
ton of allied prisoners of war. But
nothing has been published. so far as
is known to the writer. of the record
established by this Wash ng tonian
during the period of hosttlities as
commanding general. base section NO.
5. American expeditionary forces.
Let il be explained at the outset
that the port of Brest" was not
base section No. 5: no more SO than
the town of ChaumOnt WAS the entire
field of battle Of the world war. Brest
was merely the HEADQUARTERS of base
section No. ia Territorial command.
which extended as far east as the
city of Rennes and north to the Eng
lish channel. 1t included the prov
inces of Finistefe. Cote du Nord. llle-et-
N-ilaine and Manche. in which terri
tory were the important port of Cher
bourg. where thousands of American
troops were landed. and the other
SUPPORTS Of Gfandville and st. Malo.
All this territory. with our forces
thicl1ly scattered through 1t. was un-
der the administrative jurisdiction Of
the comm nding general of base sec
tion No. 5.
Things Hammed In Base Section.
Gen. Harries was commanding an
infantry brigade on the Nerdun front
I'm the 18th Corps of Marechal Pc
tain's I'd French army when the
commander-in-ch chief. A E. F.. learned
Of his presence and. remembering his
administrative ability and engineer
ing reputation. lost nc time in direct
ing him to proceed to the important
port of Brest and assume command
of base section No. S; 6. combination of
military general officer. administra-
tor and municipal engineer being ur-
gently needed there. That was in the
spring of 1918. immediately things
began to hum. They continued to
hum. without cessation. seven days
and seven nights a week, until after
the signing Of the armistice and the
departure on the journey east which
culminated in the historic fact and
distinction of Gen. Harries being the
first American officer to enter Berlin
since our decision to participate in
the war.
Quite naturally the rushing of troops
to the front. at the very height of the
conflict. when American troops were
most urgently needed there, is enti-
tied to first place in any recital of ac-
complishR1ents behind the first line
trenches 10 France. j hnd among my
papers a copy of a telegram dated
July II, 1915. from the commanding
general of the services of supply to
the commanding general, base section
No. 5. tran nsHfitting a message from
ChAumont that the commander-in-
chief deeires that You communicate to
the commanding general, base section
No 5. and through him to the officers
under his command. the appreciation
Of the communicating chief for the ef-
fcieRt manner in which the debarka-
ton of troops Is being handled at
Rreet. and with special reference to
rhe.aoteworthy record of having de-
barked $4,000 troops on the 18th in
stan1. This indicates q very efficient
organization and the loyal co-opera-
tiop of all concerned"
when it is recalled that during the
wat with Spain the United States
transported total OF about $1,000
troops to Cuba and Porto Rico. and
that some folks boas1ed of that feat
the-ia.nding of 34.720 troops tfor that
was che precise number at one port
in eleven hours and forty minutes
M hxyc Ri
memory serves Alright, a total of 1913
900 american soldiers were landed a,
Brest during the month of September
I91S-really. "a prodiRiOus accomplish
rsent The monthly average fell only
sery slightly under that figure. And
tbs included the landing and send
ing forward Of all the supplies, equip
ment and paraphernalia that accom-
panied the troops.
Many LANDED By Lighters.
It-shouid he explained that only the
smalier OF the transports could bs
moved alongside the two availa BILE
docks at Bfest. The majority of the
lighters run alongside the transports
moored Ear out in the harbor. Ths
same applies to the eargoes. This will
ILLUSTRATE more or less clearly ths
MAGNITUDE Of the task Of landing
nearly 35.e0e trooEs, with equip
nnent and supplies. in one day. II
seems more praiseworthy when is il
recalled that q board of engineers fao
formally reported. following q care
fui survey and inspection, that Brest
could not possibly handle more thar
ze.seS troops and 5000 tons of frei gh'
q month. Eight days after Gen. Har'
ries assumed command 400 tons o.
freight were handled at BFest on on.
dock in one day.
During six and one half months on'
million Of the 100000 men sen
across were landed, and in good con
ditioR, at BTest. AS an evidence o.
speed, the monster transport Levia
than, formerly the Faderland. abou
this time was turned around" ~
Brest in thirty-six hours. That mean;
that the Leviathan was unloaded o
about 1900 troops and an inaiens,
cargo. ali ef which had to be lighter
ed ashore; then coaled. $500 tons d
fuel being passed aboard by ha nd il
baskets from lighters-the sea seldom
being smooth-aGd the giant line
started back for more troops and sup
plies. all within thirty-six hours from
the moment she tied up to her moor
ing The best previous turn-aroun'
record Of the Leviathan. at Liverpool
was twenty-eight days.
First as iiaison officer between CniLe'
States Army headquarters in Bres
and the headquarters Of the Unite'
States naval forces in France, an,
the French and all the other for
eign missions. and later as base ad
jutant of base section No. s, the writ
Ell was fortunate in being able to Of
ficiaiiy observe and have an intjmat
knowledge of the details of what wa
planned. and the results attained. I'm
nediately after assuming comruan
Cen Harries Seemed TO grasp the pos
sibilitiss of Brest and to realize yha
WAS necessary and desirable To snoot
he way toward the winning Of tn
war. His plans caused the French au
thorities to gasp, and when he ae
complished the projects-from thei