Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-16
TROOP REVIEW
in FRANCE MAKES
DEEP IMPRESSION
Sturdy Tramp of Soldiers
Symbol of Their New
Adventure
By .4ssocidicd Press

Dy sfSSotilftd fFCSS
American Headquarters in France.
Aug. 16.-The review yesterday by
Major General William 1. Seibert of
all the troops of his command in
training afforded /. military spectacle
of international significance and his
toric import. 1t was the first time that
the troops OF this particular unit of
the American Army in France had
been assembled in its entirety and the
display they made was deeply i'm
pressive.
There have been other reviews of
American troops in foreign lands in
the Philippines. Cuba. far-away Guam
and in Panama-but there seemed to
be an entirely new meaning TO the
sturdy tramp of the men of America
in France to-day
Commander Feels Proud
They made me feel very proud"
declared Major General Sibert last
night. echoing the sentiment of a
small but enthusiastic handful OF
Americans who were permitted to
see the martial display. The setting
for the review was one of rare beauty.
1t was held upon a broad and some
what rocky platform with the rolling
fields of Frence in every direction,
green and brown with ripening
grains.
Here and there picturesque little
French villages. white walled and red
rooted. snuggled amid the trees of
matchless valleys. Occasionally these
valleys were bathed in sunshine and
again they were hidden in the gray
mist of rain. The scene was one of
changing brilliance and shadow. the
deep blue of the harvest sky and daz
cling August sun being massed now
and then by masses of comulus storm
clouds driven along by a stiffening
gale.
At one time during the review
rainstorm broke over the marching
troops. but it was only of brief dura
ticn and there was not falter in any
part of the line. There is an officers
bombing school near the point where
the review was held and throughout
the time the troops were assembling
and marching by loud explosions of
hand grenades in the near distance
gave a touch OF war reality to the pic
ture. Very early in the morning the
troops were on the move. They were
scattered in a dozen or more French
villages and each regiment was as
sembled in village where its head
quarters had been established.
Modelled on New Standard
The new army regiments are mod
elled on the European standard. quite
different from the American regi-
ments. and when on the march yes
terday in columns of fours the line
seemed to stretch an interminable
distance along beautifully paved
French roads lined with giant trees.
As the Americans passed through the
French villages enroute to the re-
view field the French peasantfolk
-,
ment and admiration.
They have seen much of the Amer
lean soldiers individually and in COM
panies since their arrival, but this
was the first gathering in force of the
new ally and the impression II made
on the villagers. farmers and French
soldiers on leave could easily be seen
and appreciated.
The French, who have been train
| ing companies and battalions of the
American army, were also surprised
and it can be truthfully stated that
there was a distinct pause of surprise
and admiration on the part of Major
General Sibert himself.
French Enthusiastic
Attached to his staff were a dozen
French officers. including the general
of a famous division. all of whom
were enthusiastic in their praise oi
the spectacle. Major General Seibert
and staff rode up and down before the
various regiments drawn up at atten-
| tion. The reviewing ground was
staked out with American flags and
when General Seibert had taken UP
| his position the immobile army began
! to move. The maneuvers by which
| it broke from regimental fronts into
| lines of platoon arranged by compa-
ries and battalions would have done
| credit to the soldiers with years OF
! training behind them.