Evening star., 1914-08-18
GREAT BRITISH ARMY
|SSAFE[YLANDED
UPONFRENCHSO
Large Proportion of Best
Troops Ready to Join in
European Conflict.
ENTHUSIASTIC GREETING
IS ACCORDED SOLDIERS
Ovation for Sir John French, Field
Marshal, While in
Paris.
OVERSEE TRIP SUCCESSFUL
Not a Single Casualty Occurs.
Transports Guarded by Strong
Squadron Of Warships-Lord
Kitchener Pleased.
OVERSEE TRIP SUCCESSFUL

day has been that of the landing
of a British expeditionary army
on the shores of France. Every
body in England has known for
two weeks that a large army was
crossing the channel. The troops
had been assembled at different
bases, one of the largest contin-
gents embarking at Dublin, Ire
land. Many other regiments sail
ed from Liverpool, while still
others took ship at East Bourne,
Southampton and other ports
along the coast of the English
channel.
The great canvas camps at the
military stations in England were
struck only when it was known
definitely that the flotilla of trans
ports conveying the troops had
finished the oversee movement
under the escort of strong squad
rons of warships.
Secrecy as to Movements.
The transportation Of tho soldiers
time not a mention Of the expedition
now the strength Of the expedition.
the names Of the regiments composing
the contingents and the ports where
they landed are shielded 10 far as pos
sible from the public.
1t is known, however, that a largo
proportion of the best troops of the
British regular army is now on con-
British soldiers everywhere in France
was enthusiastic. The officers and
men Of the two armies fraternized
warmly.
single casualty occurred during the
embarkation. transportation and de-
barkation of the men and stores of
the British expeditionary force, and
everything was carried through with
the greatest precision.
Official Statement Issued.
Frederick e. Smith. the unionist
member Of parliament, who Is acting
as director Of the oficial press bu-
reau Of the British war once and ad-
miralty, issued the following state
ment to the English newspapers to-
night:
Field Marshal Earl Kitchener wishes
me to add that he and the country are
under the greatest obligation to the
British press for the loyalty with
which all references to the movements
Of the British expeditionary force and
their landing on the continent had been
suppressed.
Earl Kitchener is well aware that much
anxiety must have been caused to the
English press by the knowledge that
these matters were being freely dis
cussed in the continental press and he
try that nothing but his conviction Of
the military importance to this country
Of suppressing these movements would
have led him to issue instructions which
placed the press Of this country under a
temporary disadvantage"
English Commander Welcomed.
Mr.. Smiths statement continued:
"Fieid Marshal John French arrived in
Paris shortly after midnight Saturday to
convey the salutations Of the British ma
ton to France. The commander-in-chief
of tho British expeditionary army was
welcomed by several DISTINGUISHED officers
Of the French general stan. the British
ambassador in Paris and number OF
French cabinet ministers.
"As Sir John French. dressed in his
khaki uniform. stepped from the train in
the French capital a roar Of cheering for
England and France rose from the great
crowd which had assembled, and the peo-
pie then sang the national anthems Of the
two countriea
embassy, and his motor car all the way
through the streets was tho center Of q
human whirlpool. Even the police were
excited, and they were wholly unable
around the car shouting clamorously:
Hurrah for Gen. French! Hurrah for
England! Hurrah for France! Women
held children above the crowd to see
the famous English general. whose motor
car was soon Oiled with small flags and
cockades.
Confers With Poincare.
'.The coincidence Of the British COM
mander-in-chiefs name being French is
regarded as a happy augury for the
allies. After sleeping at the embassy
Sir John French paid visit to the
palace Of the Elysee. where he had q
long conference with President Poin-
care.
''When the death Of Gen. Grierson
from heart failure was announced to-
day as having occurred while travelling
on a train everybody In onlcisl circles
understood that the general had been
stricken in France. His death will be
deeply deplored by the nation"
English Force Revealed.
NEW YORK, August 18.-Enslish
papers received here give details of the
composition OF the British expeditionary
force under command Of Field Marshal
Sir John French. The field force is COM
posed Of three army corps. each e
nrisinR two divisions. and there is an
srtra cavalry division under the com.
mSnd Of MAI. Gen. Edmund Alienby.
Each army corps is formed Of twenty.
four infantry battalions of about ION
men each on q war footing, six cavalry
reeiments, eight batteries Of horse ar.
ttIiery of six guns each. eighteen hat
taries OF aeld artillery. two Howitxer bat
teries and troops Of engineers, sienaI
corps, army service corps and other de-
tails.
contain seveuty-tWo infantry battalions.
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