OFFICERS EAT I I WITH PRIVATES H IN U. U S. S PORT Spirit of Democracy Rules j in Busy Lauding Landing Harbor Overseas American Port Western France Au Aug 31 In hi In no section of or Franco France arc are the people more moro enthusiastic over oer the tho cornIng coming corning corn corn- ing of Americans than at this great receiving recel port for tor United States soldiers sol sol- sol sol- diers diets German Gorman propagandists at first spread tho tile idea that the Americans were coming coming- to take tako possession settle down and stay b but t this Idea has passed Along tho tIme countr country roads tho the pas passing of ot Americans is the time signal for 0 a demonstration dem dern- with peasant children scattering scattering scat cat flowers lowers and cheering Vivo Ive les Americans It hns has required much diplomacy on tho the part of or tho the American commanders military and naval n to pre preserve erve and develop the international spirit among among- ill nI tho time foreign and native elements The Tho central square of or the port has been re renamed renamed renamed re- re named Place Pre President Wilson lIson On tho the two national holidays July 4 an anti and 14 H all combined to do do honor to the tho I American comman commanders ers and Americans leans presenting them silken flags lass flowers and bronze statues Socialists Abound The Tho socialist political element clement Is strong in these parts palts and this too has required tact on tho the part of ot the tho AmerIcan American Amer Amer- Amerlean ican lean commanders When hen a recent buffet but but- fet Cot et supper was as given It was arranged that I French Tench and Americans should bo be represented b by all branches of ot their services privates as well seli as ns officers In n tho the true spirit of ot democracy and no nodal so- so dal equality A And nd so each side Selected se seeded selected se- se eded as guests ten officers ton ten noncommissioned noncommissioned non non- commissioned officers and ten privates It W was s the same for tor the na navy naThe The English English English Eng Eng- lish also came in iii officers and men on the same basis Thus the International gathering g of social equality was as carried out AmerIcan American Amerlean Amer Amer- ican lean French and British generals and admirals mingling familiarly with American ets and soldiers and French and British tars Thero was no patronizing spirit of oC the higher ranks over the lower lowet but hut a real getting to together to- to gether In a n common wor work In which all ail ranks were doln doing doin their part p The mayor or of ot the elt city was deeply m im impressed m pressed with this manifestation in which the newcomers from America took the lead and the tho venerable French admiral an officer of or the old school I proved himself one ono of ot the most a agreeable agreeable agree agree- able hosts of or American and reo-I reo manines ma ma- nines rines r- r 1 I 2 sale ule Li 11 There have hae been heen some ome huge problems to work out in making this such an effective ef effective e- e ef- ef receiving point At f first list there was no rio fresh water except from a few lew un uncertain springs s With hundreds of ot thousands of ot soldiers on the time way here nere a safe saCe and sure water supply was im Ira- Soon there will be a reservoir gallons capable of or storing supplying the arm army the American naval na na- na- na al val ships and anid transports and the port itself Itsel for one month even en If It not a a. drop aIls Besides direct mains to of or rain falls there thera are 12 i- the tho arm army camps Inch mains leading rl right hl to the sea sell seafront seafront destroy destroy- front with connections to our ers era and shipping In the harbor pumping pump pump- In jag ing fresh water to ships at sea Ben On the water front one notices that tho the big American warehouses are cov ered with Ith strange hieroglyphics These shipping addresses and crate markings markIngs mark- mark are arc In this array of ot Ings s. as all the lumber umber buildings is 15 from crates and boxes bringing army supplies Some of oC these crates carrying cars were Immense with planking and heavy timbers timber Every board and beam was saved for lumber limber Is scarce here and even the were drawn and saved And out of ot this this this' waste lumber and nails ha have ha e arisen most of or these mammoth buildIngs buildIngs buildings build- build with shipping shipping shipping ship ship- Ings marked from end to end ping addresses I I