The Republican., 1931-05-28

which Colonel Bunau-Varila was pres
ent. On the rounds to inspect this
fine monument we passed the many
bays which contain the bones of men
who lost their lives in the great bat
tie. When we came to the bay cor
responding to the sector in which he
fought, he jovially remarked that he
thought his leg must be in there.
Dock Construction Delayed.
Toward the end of October, accom-
panied by Gems. Richard N. Blatchford
and Mason NJ. Patrick, and Coils.
Charles II. Krauthoff and David S.
Stanley, l visited Bordeaux, one of
the ports chosen for the use of Amer
ican troops. AS facilities were only
sufficient to accommodate limited
amount of additional medium draft
shipping, we had started the construc-
tion of new docks at Bassens, II miles
below, where deep water would per-
NIT vessels to come alongside. Al
though considerable quantities Of ma
terial had been sent over, this new
construction was delayed principally
because of the lack of piling which the
engineers had planned to have brought
from the Pacific coast.
An incident happened in connection
with the shipments of piling from
home that would have been amusing
If it had not been so serious. One
ship that reached Bordeaux was sup
posed to be loaded with especially long
piling, but upon inspection the engi-
neers found it much shorter than pre-
scribed. Upon inquiry it was learned
that to get the piles in between bulk
heads the supercargo had sawed the
ends off. While speaking Of forest
products another example of inefi-
cheney that occurred little later
might be mentioned.
One of the vessels from home was
loaded by the Quartermaster's depart
ment with shavings for the cold stor-
age plant instead of steel billets for
the manufacture of guns when tons of
sawdust and shavings could have been
obtained from the logging districts in
France.
Trouble With Russians.
Continuing the inspection, we went
on Sunday to Cornau, about forty
miles from Bordeaux, thinking it
might possibly be available for our
use later on. 1t was then occupied
by brigade of disaffected Russians,
who, like most of their fellows, had
defied their officers and refused to
participate further in the war. After
being withdrawn from the line they
had given the French so much trouble,
even to committing depredations on,
the people, that they had to be sent
out of the zone of the armies to this
rather remote camp, where they were
held practically as prisoners.
There was no transportation to car
~ them back to Russia, and as they
had been allowed to keep their arms
it was difficult to enforce discipline
among them. spoke to two colonels
and criticized the lack of sanitation,
but it was evident that they were un-
able to compel the men to work, even
to the extent Of cleaning out stables,
latrines or drains, and the conditions
may be better imagined than de-
scribed. The men were heavy, stu
pid-looking lot, who, in their new es-
tate, apparently did not care how bad
things were so long as the French
continued to feed and clothe them.
Progress Is Noted.
Gievres, which lies 100 miles direct.
ly south of Paris, became the site Of
our principal supply depot in France.
Under Col. G. J. Symmonds' able and
energetic direction construction to cov-
er an area OF 12 square miles was 60
ing forward with all possible speed.
Colonel Symmonds was gradually put
ting order and system into the place.
Regardless of the adverse conditions
under which the line of communica-
tions was laboring there was every
where a fine and enthusiastic spirit
among the officers and men, who, with
out exception, were cheerful and opti-
mistic.
After all, considering the. lack of
men and material, we were making
progress on the physical side Of the
organization that would feed, clothe
and furnish munitions for the great
army we hoped to have.
One obstacle, however, was to be
found in the number of independent
bureaus represented at the ports and
the larger centers Of activity, not only
in our own system but especially in
that Of the French, and the conse-
quent difficulty of securing teamwork
among them. AS remedy / sent to
each base section a competent general
officer with an organized staff to CO.
ordinate and systematic the man.
agement of affairs, and in, brief time
considerable improvement was notice
able in methods of handling troop ar
rivals and cargo and in the increased
nrogress of construction.
(To be Continued in Next Issue)