Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-09

ments as the proportion estimated for
the work was about one man in three.
There was scarcely town in France
south of the latitude of Paris with rail
connections with our main railroad
arteries to the front that did not have
some important American activity con-
nected with the A. E. F. through the
S. o. s.
Makes Report to Baker.
Speaking Of the situation in a cable
to the Secretary of War August 2, ]
said, among other things:
81 have Just returned from a, thor
ough inspection of the Service of Sup
ply, having spent day at each Of the
western ports OF France and visited all
of the principal depots, remount sta
plished surpasseS all calculation and Is
a monument to the abilities of the men
who during the past year have devoted
their best energies to carrying out the
great plan. The results are especially
gratifying in view of the handicap of
the shortage Of labor and material that
has existed since April on account of
tonnage being devoted to transportation
of combatant troops to the exclusion Of
S. o. S. troops. am satisfied now that
we have builded properly and that
there Is no question whatever that the
ports and our Service of Supply will
be able to provide for the needs of our
extended program.
Right now there is a capacity APP
proximating $4,000 tons per day at all
our ports, including Marseille, and
this will continue to increase pari passu
with our needs. Port efficiency will in
crease with experience and additional
men and equipment.
With the increased personnel and
material called for, the rail facilities
will be adequate. There need be no
worry as to our ability to handle sup
plies as fast as our expanding tonnage
will require. Even with scant labor
supply we have repaired about $4,000
French cars and proportionate num-
Der Of engines. ."
Never Short Of Food.
Notwithstanding the scattered units
of the command, supply trains have
never failed to reach our troops, who
have never been short Of food for q
day. SS"
"a change of the system TO one Of
coordinate control Is not indicated.
Although there has been some lack Of
push in the S. o. S. yet am as con-
fident Of the perfect working of the
organization under the selected head,
Gen. Harbord, as I am Of ultimate
military victory. He has taken hold in
splendid fashion. / shall transfer to
him the entire subject Of routine sup
ply and related subjects, including
transaction OF cable business with the
War Department on such subjects.
There is no sort of doubt in my mind
that the Service of Supply with him
at It's head, Under direction of the Gen.
eral staff, viii continue to function
satisfactorily regardless Of the size Of
this command, leaving me free to de-
vote my attention to the military prob
lens. -"
There is no line of cleavage between
the supply Of troops and their tactical
operations. All must be under one head
to insure success. 1t is a sound military
principle, the wisdom of which the ex-
perience gained in all wars has clearly
shown"
Regarding our rail situation in its
relation to railway procurement at
home, 1t was fortunate that Mr.. Samuel
FELTON,, who was In charge, should have
been in France at this time. With the
limited amount Of sea transportation
available, he had done everything pos
ways, but the immediate cry was still
for more locomotives, more cars and
port equipment. With the ever-increas-
ing demands, we had only about 1900
cars, with about 81 900 on order that
we had urgently asked for. Looking into
the next year, to meet our 100000
program and allowing for all that could
be built or repaired in France or OBJ
taihed elsewhere, we would need to re-
ceive from home over $4,000 more cars
by the following July.
Troops Given Precedence.
As to locomotives, it was the same
story. We had obtained only 555 en-
gines from the States, and our actual
needs by July, 1912 would be about
5000 more, or about $50 per month
from then on. Many other essential
articles Of equipment vitality needed to
equip our docks for the prompt dis
charge of vessels had not yet arrived.
Cablegrams that would I'LL volumes
had been sent on all these matters, but
there seems never to have been clear
conception at home Of their relative
value. It should be remembered. how
ever. that troop shipments had prob