The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-13
Calcutta, No Longer A Bottleneck Port,
 Earn Top Overseas Efficiency Rating
By HARRY CRIMSON NEA Staff Corresuondent

Calcutta, July 13 = For two-and- a-half-years almost 90 per cent of ell U. s. war supplies for the China Burma-India theater have come through the great port of Calcutta For the past two months Calcutta has been virtually the only Indian port used by Americans in getting the goods to China over the Stilwell road, by air and pipeline. As the war in Burma progressed, the percentage of U. s. supplies go- ing through Karachi and Bombay, formerly our only Indian ports, steadily increased until several weeks ago. Then they were closed as far as American port operations were concerned.
 Since mid-January, 1914, the India Burma theater has stood at the top of the overseas efficiency rating in net discharge of cargo per day. In one month the net rate of discharge from ships was double that of the next theater.
 First under Major General Gil- bert x. Cheves and then under Brigadier General Robert Reese Neyland, the efficiency of the port has continued on the upgrade. Eighteen months ago the British be- lieved the six berths of the King George docks allotted Americans, the best in the port, were good for no more than monthly maximum of 300,000 tons. More than 900,000 tons are now being handled through them. This is another reason why the British ask: What is it? What have the Americans got?"
 USES FOOTBALL METHODS
 Brigad1er General Bob Neyland credits the American spirit of ac- compliShment. American CTS even make the Indians, or Wogs, as they call them, work. The Americans eagerness to get the job done even has the natives, generally seen in a recumbent position, excited. Big Bob Neyland, whom fans will re- call as the famous coach of the Uni versity of Tennessee, attributes this to the application of football prin- ciples.
 Rules for the running of this port almost could be taken out of the football text book" he ex- plains. Physical condition, tech- nical ability and morale. Give me three minutes on any military job, especially one having to do with construction, and I'll tell you whether it's on time or behind schedule. The spirit de corps tells the story. The same is true in football. In 15 minutes I'll tell you whether a football squad is going anywhere in particular"
 In September, 1942, General Jo- seph W. Stilwell made an agree ment with the British assuming U. 8. responsibility for American shipping damaged while trying to mako it's way to Calcutta. Since the fall of Singapore, Calcutta is the crossroads of the Far East.
 At first conditions in Calcutta were miserable. Inadequate un- loading facilities and unskiIled la Dor combined to jam Up supplies on docks and in sheds and to leave ships standing for days on the Hooghly River waiting for empty berths.
 BOTTLENECK BROKEN
 July, 1943 saw the arrival of American port battalions to super wise the unloading job, however, and by January, 1914, American dock equipment, including heavy barge cranes, fork lifts and other labor-saving devices, was brought in. The bottleneck port of Calcutta started to operate smoothly. In volume and size of operation, the Calcutta Base Section cannot be compared to huge European the ater of Operation bases and supply systems. But the ETO in England never had the problem of India inadequate warehouses, narrow streets, antiquated unloading, in- sufficient dock facilities, poor rail- road, stif1ing heat and a mixture of strange languages.
 All except the crowded condi- tions and the heat were conquered by efficient organization. The goods move swiftly along the longest sup ply line in history, although there are no fewer than 34 widely y-scatter- ed depot intallations. The Base Sec tion Is not only Calcutta, you see, but extends north 750 miles to the tea estates of the Assam Valley, from which truckhorse C-46's and CATS take of for the hop over the Hump of the Himalayas, and east