The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-05-29

the members of our forces in France
and had inquired regarding the atti-
tude of the French.
My judge advocate, Col. w. A.
Bethel, presented our opinion to the
French authorities, which was that &C.
cording to the principles of interna-
tiOnal law, and in view Of the condi-
tons under which the American army
was serving in France, its members
should not be subject to criminal pros
ecution in French courts but should be
answerable only to our own military
tribunals. This view was readily &C.
cepted by the French, and very prop
erIy the Jurisdiction over our forces,
both civil and military, remained in
our hands.
Great Confusion at Home"
There was ample evidence of great
confusion at home due to lack of eff
cient supervision, even in New York
harbOr, where experts should have
been easy TO find. Ships were seldom
loaded TO their full capacity; supplies
greatly needed were often left be-
hind; nonessentials were being sent
over; many things were broken due to
careless loading; troops were often
shipped to one port and their equip
ment TO another.
The Washington bureaus often fol-
lowed blindly some Out-of-date supply
table perhaps drawn up under for
mer regime by an antiquated desk SOL
der long since retired and forgotten.
As an illustration, / recall a bill of
lading from one of our transports that
was presented to me about this time as
a curiosity. II listed a number of ar
ticles quite useless TO an army in the
field and provoked the following cable:
"For all departments. Recommend
no further shipments be made Of fol-
lowing articles bath bricks, book
cases, bathtubs, cabinets for blanks,
chairs except folding chairs, cuspidors,
Office desks, floor wax. hose except fire
hose, siepladders, lawn mowers, re-
frigeraturs, settees, sickles, stools, win
dow shsies. Further stop orders will
follow SOON"
We were short-handed. both at de-
pots and along the line of communica-
lions. in all classes of labor that
should have been sent over long be-
fore. The quartermaster corps in
France was seriously handicapped In
handling, caring for and issuing its
stores and supplies.
The need for stevedOres had become
most urgent Combat troops were still
being used TO unload cargo and much
time was wasted by the use of labor
that was entirely unsuitable for this
sort of work through lack of expert
ence. Moreover, it was urgent that
the combat troops should be sent in
land to receive their battle instruction
The French. although short them
selves. had loaned US a few prisoners
and also some women as laborers to
help out. but neither class was salts
factory. Under the conditions there
was danger that our ports would be-
come hopelessly congested, although
three weeks later, and after further
urgent appeals. the War department
promised to send stevedores ar once.
Nv Iiary notes the following:
ChaumOnt, Thursday, Oct. 4.
19I1.-Gen. de Castlenau called
Tuesday TO discuss entry of First
division in the line.
Witnessed attack maneuver of
the division yesterday and con-
Quoted critique.
Ambassador Sharp came today
with Mr.. Joseph Reinach for a Wis
it and had lunch with US. Have
cabled appeal for officers fitted for
general staff.
The French, always solicitous re-
garding the progress of our training,
were anxious that our most advanced
American unit take its place in a
quiet sector. for the experience. The
main reason they advanced for sug-
costing front-line training at this time.
with which fully agreed. was that II