Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-09
SOS. UnderG Cen. HarbOrd
Inspected and Found
Functioning in Good
Order in All Phases.
OFFICERS REPLACED
ON DUTY AT PORTS
Suggestion for Training
Camps in Italy for
U. S. Troops Blocked
by Wire to FOch.
CHAPTER LvII.

\
- inspection tour Of the Service
of Supply, to note the progress
IL and acquaint myself, the chief
of staff and Gen. Hartford, by
actual observation, with conditions.
The tour was made also with view
to such changes in personnel and i'm
provements in methods as would insure
the complete fulfillment of the increased
obligations imposed upon the Service
of Supply by the tremendous task OF
receiving, storing and transporting the
enlarged troop and supply shipments.
Our first stop was Tours, which, be-
ing the location of the headquarters Of
the S. o. s.. with a huge American
military garrison of 2,400 officers and
1850 men. had become beehive Of
activity. We went directly to Gen.
Kernan's headquarters to meet the as
sembled chiefs of services, and to re-
ceive their verbal reports and discuss
the situation in their respective spheres.
British Women on Duty.
We visited every activity at Tours,
beginning with the Central Records Of
flee, branch of the Adjutant Generals
ONCE of large proportions, where the
personal records of every man in the
A. e. F. were kept. We found that the
railway OliOuScAQcp
comfortably situated in portable bar
racks at Camp de Grasse, were putting
every energy into the service. Certain
engineer troops were kept at this CEN
trail point for railway work, ready to
respond to calls from any direction.
The well managed camp of German
prisoners, under Col. Groone of the
Military Police, contained several hun
bred men used as laborers.
A number Of British women, known
as the Women's Auxiliary Aid Corps,
were lent to us by their government to
assist in clerical work. The $50 women
located at Tours occupied neat and
comfortable temporary barracks and
presented very military appearance
on parade. Some so of them were Ill
in quarters at the time and I gave in
structions that they should be trans
ferred to our hospital. Besides giving
efficient and reliable service of1cially,
these fine women, under the proper re-
strictions that prevailed, became q
valued addition to the social side of
life where they we're stationed. This
force with us eventually numbered
about 5000.
The Base Hospital at Tours was then
filled with men wounded in the recent
engagements. They were receiving the
best of care under Col. A. M. Smith
and his eflcient group Of medical ON
GERS and nurses. Speaking to the men
In our hospitals, / tried to tell them
how much the country appreciated their
valor. and assured them no efforts
would be spared to hasten their re-
covery.
Where He Was Wounded.
Passing through the various wards of
this hospital, I spoke to a fine-looking
young soldier who was sitting up in bed,
and asked him where he was Woundedl
meaning to inquire the nature of his
wound. In reply, he said: do you re-
member, sir, just where the road skirts
a small grove and turns to the left
across q wheatfeld and then leads up
over the brow Of the hill? Well, right
there. sir"
He was clearly describing the adj
vance south Of Scissors which pierced
the Chateau ThierTy salient. OF course
I was not there at the time, but 1t
touched me that he should feel that
must have been very close to him.
The Aviation Instruction Center for
Observers. under Lieut.. Col. s. w.
Fitzgerald, gave us a favorable impress
sion in every particular. While there
said few words to the srnart-looking
company OF mecndnlCIduS on The
portance of their work.
At the end of our inspection, Col.
Boyd and / went for a walk and Incl
dentally visited the fine old pension in
which I had spent two happy months
with my family in 1908. The beautiful
garden, the shade trees, the swing, the
children's sand pile, all were the same,
but the place had changed hands and
! was stranger.
On the way to our train went to
the Y. M. c. A. hut and was greeted
by large crowd of men who had I'm
ished their days work and had gath
reading and recreation which our
people at home, through the Y. M. G.
A, so generously provided our troops
abroad.
Blocked Camps in Italy.
During the evening the deputy
chief of staff, at .Chaumont, reported
by telephone to my train that the
Supreme War Council had recon-
mended that the United States establish
a few training camps in Italy, with the
idea that the presence Of American
soldiers would stimulate the morale of
the Italians. I was opposed to any dis
persion of our forces and at once tele-
graphed Gen. Foch to that effect. Al
though he was also against 1t, feared
he might be persuaded to recommend it
and that the War Department might
fail to see 1t was not the innocent
proposition it appeared to be. My tele-
gram seemed to settle the question, as
nothing more was heard Of it.
At Bordeaux I spoke to the colored
stevedores for few minutes, telling
them something of my service with
colored regiment and how proud we
were Of its conduct in the Spanish
American War. Among other things. I
told them that later they might have
the honor Of serving as combat troops
at the front.
At the conclusion Of my talk. Col.
Boyd. my aide, asked one Of the cor.
porals II he understood what I had
like to take part in the fighting. After
some hesitation, the corporal replied
very seriously: Yes, sir, understood,
but, colonel, I wish you would please
tell the general that I am very well
satisfied right here andsI hope he will
not be displeased with my work"
At the Base Hospital, then under the
efdcient supervision Of Col. H. A. Shaw,
chief surgeon of the Base Section, we
found about 800 Of our wounded, most
Of them soon TO be sent home. No mat
ter how severely wounded they were, I
never heard a word of complaint from
any Of our men. There could not have
been found in the hospitals Of any army
q more cheerful lot. It was q lesson In
fortitude, an inspiration. to see their
fine courage. Some would never again
see, others would never be able to walk
again, but they all seemed proud Of
their sacrifice, which many Of their
countrymen are often prone to forget
all too soon.
Officers Are Replaced.
Considering the extreme Importance
of Bordeaux and Bassens the general