AMERICANS IN FRANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 75, 26 February 1918, Page 6

AMERICANS IN FRANCE.

If it is necessary to explain the, slowness of American military activities . in France, remember the extent of the preliminary work that has to 'be done (states an The ! American expeditionary, force is com-, llpletely self-supporting. It draws from iFrahce nothing ■ but, air ? water, eggs 'and fresh vegetables. All the rest comes all the way Across,; tlie Pacific in ' destroyer-escorted ";?.supply-ships and then -by; rail and" -motor lorry across;'the breadth of< : France. As a •result, .no very severe strain is imposed on the food supplies ef the nation which''is•.primarily ;being-~h&ped, but the creation of toin isrnecessarily involved. ' America hasleven brought oyer,railway;..eMi.nes 'trucks, 'carriages, and plant :gep©i||ly,\ : though the control of the lines''.'concerned remains French, becausesthey ; have-' to. feed /and supply the French) districts through, wluch they run .pig quartermaster stores ■have-been, lished'.aiohg the. American lines ; Jv£p| communication, and immediately'' bfe| hind the front, with lines and roads;, radiating;out from them |n,. mdny ; di-, rections. In: these - . all others, the French are ■ help- in their power, turning over many of which they them- . 4elves\ had'nsed, \< and- supplyirig a, good deal of labor, skilled some :of it French and some .'German.;:; Gerjriaii- prisoners, supplied^by:: Francehave helped to build and : prepare a huge American aviation, camp, to accommodate; as. many as 15,000 aviation students,;'= This is said to|h<stbo gest institution of the kind/in Europe, and it" should have been 'in; full 'operation before'now. ;' *- : ' . ■