Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-28
FOUR CONTINENTS
INCLUDED IN FORCE
ALREADY LANDED

WASHINGTON, June 2S.
No time will be lost in getting the Amer
han troops now on French soil to the west
trn firing line
There will be short period of breaking
m just back of the trenches and within
earshot Of the tremendous artillery bonn
oardments, and then the flag of the United
States, carried by regulars, will be planted
On the line alongside of those of England
Belgium and France.
total of four contingents reached the
American naval base i'm France yesterday,
i became known at the War Department
today. Only meager dispatches from Cen
eral Pershng and from Major General
eibert, who commands the force, reached
secretary of War Baker today.
TRANSPORTS GUARDED
A great fleet OF transports was used to
convey the American regulars across the
Atlantic, They were protected all the way
by some of the mightiest fighting ships of
the American navy. When the first an
nouncement that troops had landed reached
his country from Paris yesterday after
hoon the War Department believed that
only the first of the four contingents on
their way had arrived and that the others
sill we're on the high seas.
Ofilcial announcement was withheld until
sabled messages assured Secretary of War
Baker that all four coHtingents had been
9fely landed and that allowing publica'
uoh OF Ine story would not menace otneTS
itll at sea. All of the American forces
mat have left the United States now are
On French soil.
The vessels carrying the troops were eX-
pected to reach French port, whose name
was given in sealed orders to the masters
OF the ships, at three-day intervals. II is
eYident from the fact that all the American
lofees arrived in France that the transports
gathered somewhere off the Irish coast and
ran the gantlet of the Kaiser's submarines
'osether The speed of the transports was
neeessarly held down to maximum speed
u the slowest vessel in the group. after
me rendezvous on the other side of the
Atlantic
orHER CONTINGENTS TO FOLLOW
These first troops will be augmented as
.sst as possible by considerable contingent
:" other trained troops.
~ Ihat was about as far as officials at the
va. "sr Department would go today in dis
susslng future plans Censorship and safety
aoNlsions forbade that there be any de-
uils at this time.
:. however, II transgresses no rules to in
~ teSe that national guardsmen are likely
~ oe IN the units sent abroad ahead or
=, new national army. None thinks here
tosa mat army can be nodded into fghting
NJ oetore next spring at the earliest
~eantime other fighting forces seasoned
service in this country, In Mexico, Haiti.
thnitto Domingo or the Philippines will take
~ sir places in the trenches of France, ready
~. eager for their part in overwhelming
S..inany and making the world safe for
uemocracies
r BLOW TO GERMANS MORALE
me very news that American regulars
~ ~ VIII take their place In the trenches
northern France is expected TO prove
ssre blow to the morale nf ihe German
hsy' The peoples OF the Central Powers
Es,,ss oeen fed upon newspaper articles be-
No,,,ls the effectiveness OF the aid America
s,.o be prepared TO give her Allies. The
Ar As'ost incredible speed with which the
frs'iean force of regulars was shifted
Nsh., Nn the Mexican border TO the French
ihsons front will do much TO dishearten
fev,,. neh IN people. and perhaps to promote
NJ against the Hohenzollerns
n. ne arrival Of troops in France will not
~ Without its effect IN this country as
hrsa, Recruiting Will be spurred officials
n,s,est by the knowledge that almost i'm
sl a-'e war service Is certain and the pulse
|t american patriots viii be uuickened by
~ 1nQWledge that Uncle sam already has
~ |c H and planted nIs nag within sight
Itful4n fIfntnrn
NfItf The Americans i1ho W Z posi-.