Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-29
NEW ERA DAWNS
WITH PERSHING
Americans Landing at Bou-
logne Hailed as Herald
of Rights Victory
ervEN ESCORT OF HEROES
Hv HENRI BAZIN


wro.rsbing set foot upon French soil at
a,,c.re the most stupendous, far-reach-
pN ss,ert in the history Of the United
M. assumed concrete form. For with
~. ene soldiers landing upon war-torn
rnsnce a new era actually dawned in the
~, tangible evidence of Americas entry
snn.S the world war French and Ameri-
W w eves upon the quay grimly saw that
49, soldier in khaki meant the United
s,s,ss was on the job. incidentally his
sssssnoe recorded the first instance I'm the
s,storv Of either France or the United
s,stes that n high officer Of tn, American
.,n.v had stood upon the soil of France
v,th his sideCarms buckled to his side
As looked with quickened pulse and
hrohbng heart my mind went back to
.,ory had learned as a little boy. story
N great import now eclipsed in like cir
spmstance-the landing of Lafayette at
ceorTetown, S. G.. in the year l777-and
realized this history-making June day had
vyen birth in return a hundredfo'd of
French bread cast upon the waters more
than century and half ago.
An ordinary channel steamer. the Invicta
tronn Folkestone,. pulled into the Boulogne
dock with General Pershing standing upon
me upper deck. surrounded by his staff. with
,yery American correspondent i'm France 7
hooked upon the Inspiring, impressive, heart,
stirring yet solemn scene of reception feel.
ing all 1t meant to France and the United
states Standing upon the quay were Brig
adler General Pelletier. the one-armed hero
of the Marne. who has been appointed by
the French Government as General Persh-
inTs permanent French aid Commander
Tbouheller, attached to the staff of Mar
,hall Joffre and representing him; Captain
Baron de Courcel. thrice wounded and at
tsched an official interpreter; General Du-
pont, aid to General Petan and represent
lng the generalssimo of the armies Of
France General Dumas, commanding the
French armies of the region Of the north
Rear Admiral Bonarcth. the hero Of Dix
nude Rene Besnard Under Secretary Of
war; Colonel Daru, Military Governor Of
Bouogne General Stevenson. commander
Of the English base at Bouogne; Admiral
pundas, of the British navy. and Edouard
Breans, prefect of Pas de Calais province
Drawn up at salute before the Invcta s
,de were two hattalions of English tommies
freshly relieved from the fighting about
Messines Ridge. and two battalions each
Of the First and Third Territorial Infantry.
every man over forty years of age and a
hero of the immortal fight at Nerdun.
As General Pershing stepped from the
-invlcta deck to the gangpank the Third
Terrltoriars band played the star Spangled
Banner" and the head of American troops
In France stopped rigidly at salute. while
every military man did likewise and civil
lsns barred their heads Immediately after
ward the General was ushered to an auto
mobile for a short ride about Boulogne
before taking the special train for Paris.
GENERAL SEES CORRESPODENT
At the exact appointed minute of 1880
the special pulled out upon the 26O-kilomet-
er journey to the capital quarter OF an
hour before. General Pershing expressed a
desire to meet the American correspondents
who were ushered into his private car and
introduced singly. To your correspondent
he said From Philadelphia! l am very
Flad' to see YOU. 7 know your city very
we'll" And as we stood in group, the
commander-in-Chief said verbatim:
Gentlemen, this inspiring moment is
fraught with great significance. Our recep-
ton on French soil has moved us deeply.
Our country, yours and mine, has entered
this war to perform its share. be 1t great
or small and to abide by the consequences
as the future may provide. ! am personally
happy to meet each and every one of you
Ny experience with American newspaper
men has been a pleasant one in the past
and am quite certain as | look upon you
that II will be an experience added to and
Increased in France. | shall hope to see
you often and to become thoroughly ac'
Quainted with you"
The journey to Paris was made In six
hours, during which time your correspon'
dent had the privilege of a short persona
conversation with the General, conVer'
sation that will long remain in memory
For this soldiers face Is full of honor and
honesty and his clear blue eyes look righ'
Into you as he speaks in good American
fashion.
At the Care du Nord, in Paris upon the
arrival Of the special, two regiments ol
Infantry were drawn up together WIN Two
battalions of municipal guards ana as
General Pershing stepped from car 10 plat
form the Republican Guards Band played
America" and the national anthem. Al
the conclusion of the hymns, Ambassador
Sharp greeted the tall soldier, after whicf
be shook hands with Marshal Joffre ano
N Niviani He was then presented to M
Paul Panleve, Minister of War; Doctor
kloot representing the president OF tht
Conseil Admiral Bienaime, General Foch
General Dubail, Military Governor of Paris
N Hudelio, prefect of the Seine; Colone
Leroy-Lewis, military attache at the Brit
sh embassy, and NJ Mthouard, Presiden
ot the Paris Municipal Council.
LEAVES STATION WITH JOFFRE
After this ceremony, General Pershint
walked down the platform with Marsha
'onre by his side and Immediately entered
waiting automobile with NJ Painleve
which was preceded by car containing
ambassador Sharp and M. Viviani and fol
nwed by a third containing Marshal Jonr
and General Peltier The other official
were seated in cars with members of tn
Senerals staff. About the station, upol
10th sides of the wide street, upon botl
edes Of every street and boulevard durinI
me ride to the Hotel Crillon, where Gen
Gal Pershing will stop until later al
iangements are perfected. there was howl
.ls mass of cheering people who waNe
american flags and cried "Vive lie Gen
Sal American Vive Joffre Nive les Etat
ehs Vive les officers Americans Viv
ies Yankees and some more.
II was the most impressive and heart-stir
ing demonstration | have ever witnesse
Paris and have looked upon many, In
uuulng the arrivals and receptions of King
sn1 Emperors in days gone by. Joy an
n'nuslasm permeated the air, tears howe
uoWh male and female cheeks, women an
snnuren threw June roses I'm General Persf
ss car, as we'll as every car following
""ereln rode khaki-clad American officers.
before this story is read the reception
u presentations will be over and the res
,trk begun. The first turn of the whe'
,La' means tangible full participation b
United States in the great war, an
pore-the certain fact that the finish TO tn
SYehe Is to come from Yankee boys veal
.ss olive drab for valiant France
tvugh In the broad sense, and England
le tull Of a great young Vigorou
'Qtnktn. IA, 3.