Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
Disembarked Without a Hitch.

silently raised his hand in salute as the
Stars and Stripes swept by.
Disembarked Without a Hitch.
To say that the Decentralization of the
men composing the initial contingent
ried out with clock-like precision
would be undertaking the facts. No
clock was ever so smoothly efficient in
rs rs trtm lime. as was the landing of
from the United States to battle on
European soil
There never was hitch in the ma
chinery from the time the advance
guard of destroyers brought the first
transports into the safety of the roads
outside the port proper until the rear
guard of the last battalion had
Edgtng gingerly alongside the quay the
nrst vessel was tied to the soil Of France
Gortiy after o'clock In the morning.
Wltnin half an hour the gangplank was
creaking beneath the steady tramp of
United States Infantry and marines. AS
me men reached the wharf they were
formed In line by their officers AS soon
as the entire regiment wa sashore 1t
camp.
The second transport reached its berth
and the operation was repeated at about
the same interval with the first arrivals.
Then there was an hours lull after which
the rest Of the feet began coming in AT
regular intervals. After awhile the nov
city wore Off even for the German pris-
oners at work on the piers. who. with
their French guards, sent from Paris to
supervise the landing, and little eroun
OF correspondents, were the only wit
nesses to the actual Decentralization
American Meat in Evidence.
Following the troops or the road to
camp came interminable files Of motor
6rTyy H,r
bearing the heavier supplies, equipment
and ammunition. American frozen meat,
z noticeable feature of the loads carted
from the ships in earnest Of Uncle Sam 3
desire TO feed his men himself.
L Joined the major general commanding
Gen Pershings forces. who spared a few
minutes Of what time he had to say 1t was
sure the busiest day of his life and 10
tell how glad he was to be in France 1T
feels mighty good to get here" he said
There Is not one Of US who is not bub-
bling over with the desire to get at the
enemy. OF course, 1t will be good while
yet before our chance comes. and mean
time we have got a healthy spell Of hard
work ahead Of us. There's plenty to be
done before We will be fit to enter this
trenches alongside the French We had
: q hne trip and owe a great deal to the
navy for the way it got US through
The Yankee twang. the southern
drawl and the western burr are being
waited up into the bedroom of the ho-
tel where ! am writing this dispatch.
Already American" is being heard
more frequently than French on the
main street At least. SO it seems to
me.
Tonight there are throngs Of soldiers
and sailors in every restaurant and
cafe. and every now and then the pro-
yost marshaPs guard marches past cor
railing men who have strayed too far
from camp and is restraining the ex-
uberance of those to whom the ability
to buy drinks-forbidden them in their
own countries-has proved a bit too
strong.
French Delighted With Americans.
The French SO far are delighted with
Uncle SANS fighting "envoys" The
Americans boyishness and high spirits
are pleasing even to these folk whom
the great struggle has weighed go
crush.ngly.
TT Is their youth that is so wonder
~! to See. the proprietress OF my hotel
Informed me. They seem so much
younger than our poilus. why, I have
not seem a single mustache among
them all. God grant that they do not
ioso their youthfulness as / have los,
it."
Whenever the American companies
march by. and that's all day long, one
nnds tho French officers gravely re-
gariins them. estimating their worth
as warriors.
There are many who REQUIRE the
most intensive training before they are
NJ for the front. I think" the gray
haired commandant replied to my aues-
ton as to what he thought of our men
But the material is there in plenty
We shall be glad to place them on the
same high level as our own poilus be-
fore long"
He did not know what percentage OF
the Americans are recruits.
Think All Americans Millionaires.
Other things about new allies, some
what surprising to the French are
their prodigality and their bands. From