The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-28
Soldiers Go Into Camp Al
ready Prepared. Soon to Be
Visited by Commander
GERMAN PRISONERS
WATCHING ADMIRINCLY
Piers Quickly Swarm With
Thousands of Women. Old
Men and Children, All 9th
ers Being at the Front

BY G. F. BERTELIL.
Stan Correspondent Of the Inta
tional News Service. 4&M
A French Seaport. June 17.--1:1o
P. NJ. Passed by the Censor9--
Pershings boys are here.
Thousands OF them came within tlse
last twenty-four hours, out 81 tho
misty vastness Of the sea, U-boat In
tested sea that held no terrors Tor
them not a torpedo scratch on q
transport not q single man lost.
Spick and span. with weather-
Drowned faces their eyes sparkling
fight, every one of them every inch 4
man. they tramped down the gane-
ways to the strains OF the STARS ana
Stripes Forever" into a pandemoniuHn
of amending cheers.
Tonight they are already in cann
itching to get to the front. Tho camp
is not far from here. II il ii charge
Of General William L. Hilbert. who
came in command Of the tro4pT
Pershing II coming over from 42xfe
tomorrow to greet him.
As these thousai.> - AMor3ens0
fighting lands poured off the tranow
fighting lads poured OF the tr1ua-
stood on the pier. Teeth grimly ~
they looked half sideways at tho0e
strapping newcomers. Those who
watched the prisoners could discern
a grudging admiration IN their looks.
The remarkable thing about the
scenes attending the real entrance "
the United States into the world war.
through the safe arrival Of the expe-
dictionary force. was the spontaui1ty,
the touching warmth Of their rec0p-
ton here. Not an inkling OF the Ar-
rival had leaked out before hand.
There had been no preparations. NJ
programs with speeches and songu,
no reception committee or the Hike.
Not until the transports had safely ar
rived off this port. ready to disem-
bark did the momentous news becomA
known. Then the people here simply
got wild
The first transport struck her cray
nose into the harbor in the carly
morning. The piers swarmed with
thousands. OF men. there were few.
OF course, and these only aged and
wounded; the others are at thu front.
The realization that these new.
csmers are shortly to fight side BY stdA
with the men pf this port Who arN
already In the thick Of battle drovo
the women frantic with Joy ana grati-
tude. At
The American troops answered tlsA
ShcCAS Oy tAio"iAh& S1Atdti SllSGF GOtAW
ashore. A roaring scramble amon8
tho street urchins followed.
They did not spend the coins far
candy. They wrapped them up care
fully In the ragged handkerchiekn u
save them as sacred souvinirs.
The Decentralization passed o6 IN
the most orderly manner. There va
not the slightest hitch. Ship aftar
ship slipped into her berth. dischArt-
ing men and equipment Confusion 4
seemed an unknown quantity to thAaA
khaki-clad youths and thsir az.
fcers. NH NE
From the piers the Americas eos
mands marched of through II ~
- fs-zAIE3x4s
populace had turned out to give &llSl4@
a tremendous ovation. The ctQWda
showered favors. fruits. cigarettes ana
dainties upon the marchers.
''Vive rAmerique," was an ua1n4.
ing cry. And as proof that but ono
confident thought was in the hearto o& 4
those cheering thousands. th1a nlSot1&
was repeated over and over again. 81
you'll chase the Germans cut 0l i
our country"
We will.' came the thundse9lsn
chorus from the boys.
Their reception and praGn@
through the city were one greSIk MI
unnphal march. The French onl1cts&1
remarked time and again upotf ~
youth and physique OF the AmoY3ca1lGsN
For France this was the proudon
the happiest day since the MATno