Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-28
ARRIVAL OF PERSRlNG'S ARMY
IN FRANCE GREAT EVENT IN
WAR CRISIS.
REGULARS PASS ZONE
OF SUBMARINES IN SAFETY
Americans Garry All Their Own Sup
plies and Will Not Be Burden on
AlIies-Some Of Great Tasks Met in
Organizing and Forwarding First Ex-
peditionary Force.

Washington, June es-1n defiance OF
the German submarines, thousands OF
seasoned regulars and marines, trained
fighting men with the tan of long serv-
vice on the Mexican border or in Halt
or Santo Domingo still on their faces
have been fastened overseas to fight
beside the French, the British, the Bel
gian, the Russian, the Portuguese, and
the Italian troops on the western front
News of the safe arrival of the troops
sent a new thrill thru Washington. NC
formal announcement came from the
war department. None will come, prob
ably, until Maj. Gen. Pershing's official
report has been received. Then there
may be a statement as to the numbers
and composition of the advance guard
Mai. Gen. Sibert Leads.
Press dispatches from France, pre-
sumbly sent forward with the approval
of General Pershing's staff, show that
Maj Gen. William L. Sibert, one of the
new major generals of the army, has
been given command Of the first force
sent abroad, under General Pershine
as commander in chief Of the expedi-
ton.
One thing stands out sharply, despite
the fact that the size of the task that
has been accomplished is not fully re-
vealed That is that American enter
prise has set a new record for the
transportation of troops.
Considering the distance to be COW
cred and the fact that all preparations
had to be made after the order came
from the White House the night of May
IS. it is practically certain that never
before has military expedition of this
size been assembled, conveyed, and
landed without mishap in so short a
time by any nation.
Carry All Own Supplies.
The American forces will be 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 Around them at the
camp on French soil are being stored
that will keep them going for
months and more will follow
General Pershing and his staff have
been busy for days preparing for the
arrival Of the men. Despite the enor-
nous difficulties of unpreparedness and
submarine dangers that faced them
the plans of the army general staff
have gone thru with clocklike preci
sion.
Some Of Tasks Met.
When the order came to prepare i'm
an expeditionary force to go
to France, virtually all of the men now
across the seas were on the Mexican
border General Pershing himself was
in San Antonio. There We're no army
available in the Atlantic.
The vessels that carried the troops
were scattered on their usual routes.
Army reserve stores were still depleted
from the border mobilization. Regi-
ments were below war strength.
That was the condition when Presi-
dent Wilson decided that the plea OF
the French commission should be an
swered and a force of regulars sent a:
once to France
At his word the war department be-
gan to move. Gen Nal Pershing was
quietly to Washington. His
arrival created some speculation in the
press, but at the request of Secretary
Baker the newspapers generally re-
Trained from discussion of this point.
Other Duties Handicap.
There We're thousand other acttvi-
ties afoot in the department at the
time. All the business Of preparing
for the military registration Of 10000
900 men, Of providing quarters and in
structors for finding arms and equip
ment for millions Of troops yet to be
organized, of expanding the regular
army to full war strength, of prepar-
ing and recruiting the national guard,
for war was at hand.
General Pershing dropped quietly
into the department and set up the
first headquarters Of the American ex-
peaitionary forces in little office
hardly large enough to hold himself
and his personal staff. There, with tn.
aid Of the general staff Of Secretary
Baker, and of the chiefs Of the wal
department bureaus, the plans were
worked out.
Pershins Goes Silently.
Announcement of the sending of the
force under General Pershing was
made on May IS. The press gave the
news to the country and there were
daily stories. There came q day when
General Pershing was no longer in the
department. Officers Of the general
staff suddenly were missing from their
desks. No word Of this was reported.
Then came word from England that
Pershing and his officers were there.
All was carried thru without publicity.
Other matters relating to the ex-
petition were carried out without a
word Of publicity. The regiments that
were to go with General Pershing were
all selected before he left and moving
toward the seacoast from the border.
Other regiments also were moving
north, east, and west to the points
where they were to be expanded and
the movements Of the troops who were
to be first In France were obscured in
all this hurrying of troop trains over
the land.
Great shipments Of war supplies be-
gan to assemble at the embarkation
ports. Liners suddenly were taken on
their regular runs with no announce
ment. A great armada was made
ready, supplied, equipped as trans
ports, loaded with men and guns, and
sent to sea, and all with virtually nc
mention from the press.
Navy Does Good Work.
y The navy bears its full share in the
achievement. From the time the trooI
ships left their DOCKS anu iIea9eG