Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-07-04
AMERICAN TROOPS LANDING.
Discmlark at French Port A mid Wild
Cheering OF POpuiace.

A HErench Seaport, June 27.-The
second contingent Of American troops
arrived and disembarked this morn
ing. The troops landed amid the
frantic cheers of the people, who had
gathered for hours before in antici-
patton Of duplicating yesterdays
surprise.
Enthusiasm roso to fever-pitch
when 1t was learned that the trans
ports and conveys had successfully
passe'. the submarine zone. The port
was speedily bcnagged i'm honor of
the occasion.
All the troops now arrived we're
transferred to-day to camp not
distant from this point, where Major
Gen. VIM. l.. Sibert Is installed.
Thence they will go soon to a point
near the front. All the troops are in
excellent shape, enthusiastic over the
successful trip and their reception.
and eager for action.
Major Gen. Pershing, the Ameri-
can commander. is expected to-mor-
row. The harbor is dotted with con-
vOys. The streets are filled with SOL
diers in khaki and with bluejackets.
Great numbers or trucks are trans
porting immense supplies to the
camps in which the troops aTe con-
centrating.
Crossed In Record Time.
Washington, June 27.-The ad-
vance guard Of the mighty army the
United States is preparing to send
against Germany Is on French soil
In defiance Of the German subma-
rines, thousands Of seasoned regulars
and marines. trained fighting men
with the tan Of long service on the
Mexican border or in Haiti or Santo
Domingo still on their faces, have
been fastened overseas to fight be-
side the French the British, the Bel
gian, the Russian, the Portuguese
aud the italian troops on the western
front
News Of the safe arrival of the
troops sent a new thrill through
Washington to-day. No formal an
nOuncemcnt came from the War De-
pnrtment. but when Major Gen. Per-
shing's official report has been recciv-
ed there may be statement as to
the numbers and composition Of the
advance guard.
Press dispatches from France. pre-
snmably sent forward with the ap-
proval OF Gen. Pershing's STAFF, show
that Major Gen. Sibert. one OF the
new major generals Of the army.
commands the first force sent abroad,
under Gen. Pershing, as commander
in-chief Of the expedition.
One thing stands out sharp. despite
the fact that the size Of the task that
has been accomplished is not fully
revealed as yet This is that Ameri-
can enterprise has set a new record
for the transportation OF troops.
Considering the distance to be coy
cred and the fact that all prepara-
tons had to be made after the order
came from the White House the
night OF May is. it is practically GER
tain that never before has military
expedition Of this size been assem-
blcd, conveyed and landed without
mishap in so short time. 1t is good
augury OF future achievements.
Net Gains to the Allies.
The American forces will be a net
gain to the allies. 1t will throw no
single burden Of supply or equipment
upon them. The troops will be fed
clothed, armed and equipped by the
United States.
Despite the enormous difficulties Of
unpreparedness and submarine dan
gers that faced them. the plans of
the army general staff have gone
through with clocklike precision.
When the order came to prepare
Immediately an eXpedit1onary force
to go to France, virtually all of the
men now across the seas were on the
Mexican border. Gen. Pershing him
self was at his headquarters in San
Antonio. There were no army trans
ports available In the Atlantic. Army
reserve stores were still depleted
from the border mobilization. Regi-
nents were below war strength.
That was the condition when Pres
ident Wilson decided that the plea Of
the French high commission should
be answered. At his word the War
Department began to move Gen.
Pershing was summoned quietly to
Washington. At the request Of Sec
retary Baker tho newspapers gene
rally refrained from a discussion of
his arrival.
There were thousand other activ-
tiles afoot in the department at the
time. All the business Of preparing
for the registration Of ten million
men. Of providing quarters and in
structors for nearly $4,000 prospect
i've officers. for finding arms and
equipment for millions of troops yet
to be organized. OF expanding the reg
ular army to full war strength, of
preparing and recruiting the national
guard for war, was at hand.
Gen. Pershing dropped quietly into
the department, and set up the first
headquarters Of the American expe-
uitiOnarS forces in n LITTLE oflipp