Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-28
FRENCH FRANTIC e, vv00DSAlFN
Fevered Enthusiasm as
U. S. Troops Arrive
Two Contingents in Excellent
Condition for Battle

A French Seaport June 27.-The sec
ond contingent Of American troops ar
rived and disembarked this morning.
The troops landed amid the frantic
cheers of the people, who had gather
ed for hours before in anticipation of
duplicating yesterdays surprise.
Enthusiasm rose to fever pitch when
it was learned that the transports and
conveys had successfully passed the
submarine zone. The port was speed
lily befagged in honor of the occasion.
All the troops now arrived We're
transferred today to camp not far
distant from this point where Major
General William Sibert is installed.
Thence they probably will go soon to
point near the front. All the troops
are in excellent shape, enthusiastic
over the successful trip and their re-
ception. and eager for action.
Major General Pershing, the Ameri-
can commander, is expected tomorrow,
when additional troops are expected.
The harbor is dotted with conveys.
The streets are filled with soldiers in
khaki and bluejackets. Great numbers
of trucks are transporting immense
supplies to the camp in which the
troops are concentrating.
Independent Command
The epochal landing of American
troops in France cannot be fully dis
cussed at this time for obvious rea-
sons concerning the safety of other
contingents.
1t is entirely permissible to say
that they are part of the force which
will be under command of Ma jor Cen
eral Pershing and for whose arrival
the general and his staff have been
arranging ever since they landed on
the other side. The American troops
will be an entirely independent com
mand, just as are the British troops,
working, of course, with the French
at the head of operations as they are
on French soil. When the troops have
had their period of preparation behind
the lines, they will take a place on the
battlefront, to be arranged by Gem
eral Pershing in consultation with the
other military chiefs there, and prob
ably will be very soon carrying the
Stars and Stripes in the assaults which
steadily are driving the Germans out
Of France and Belgium.
All the troops under General Per
shing's command are regulars ana
comprise the division which President
Wilson directed to proceed to France
lat the earliest possible time" lnfor-
nation Of what other troops move
nents NAV be is surrounded by GEN.
sorship to insure. so far as possible,
a safe voyage through the submarine
zone.
1t is not permissible to say what
precautions were taken to get the Am
erican troop ships past the waiting
German submarines, but there is no
doubt that the precautions were care
fully worked out as they were effec-
tive because it is generally believed
that sometime ago most of the Ger
man submarine fleet was withdrawn
from it's attacks on commercial ship
ping to make it ready to ambush the
American troop ships in force.
The successful landing, while
source of qualification to officials here
viewed from the point of being a mill
tary operation. is regarded with added
significance for it's moral effect in Ger
many. if it is permitted to become
known there.
Tie reference in the cable dispatches
to a "duplication of yesterdays sur
prise" intimating that there was also
a landing yesterday. passes without
comment here. but obviously discloses
a landing of a contingent not recorded
in yesterdays dispatches.