Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-06-28
FLEET CARRIES u. s.
FIGHTERS SAFELY
THRU WAR ZONE
CONTINUED PROM PAGE ONE

for the military regulation OF ten mil
lion men. OF providing quarters and
instructors FOR nearly fifty thousand
prospective officers. for fire arms and
equipment for millions OF troops yet
10 be organized, OF expanding the
regular army 10 FUN war strength. or
preparing 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-
peditlOnary forces in L little office
hardly large enough to hold himself
and his personal staff. There with
the aid Of the general staff OF Secre-
tary Baker and Of the chiefs OF the
war department bureaus the plans
were worked out.
Announcement Of sending the force
under General Pershing was made
May IS. The press gave the news to
the country and there were daily
stories. There came a day when Cen
cral Pershing was no longer in the
department. Officers of the general
STAFF suddenly were missing from
their desks No word OF this was re-
ported. Then came word from Eng
land that Pershing an1 his officers
were there. All was carried thru with
out publicity.
''lltI uldlltIS TtldllUB 10 LIt expo
dition were carried out without a
word Of publicity. The regiments to
go with General Pcrshirg all were
selected before he left and were NOV
ing toward the seacoast. Other regi-
mcnts also were moving north, east
and west TO the points whore they
were to be expanded and the move
nicnts 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 bc-
gan to assemble at the embarka'lon
ports. Liners suddenly were taken off
their regular runs with no announce
ment. \ great armada was made
ready. supplied, equipped as trans
ports, loaded with men and guns and
sent TO sea and all with virtually no
mention from the press.
Navy Makes Good.
The navy bears its full share in tine
achievement. From the time the
troop ships left their docks and
headed toward sea, responsibility for
the lives OF their thousands OF men
rested upon the officers and crews of
the fighting ships that moved besiuo
them or swept free the sea lones be-
fore them. AS they pushed on thru
llle udNS anu IlsuN LOW Ai' uhiN'I
zone where German submarines lay
in wait every precaution that traineu
minds OF the navy could devise was
taken. The news from France today
shows that the plans were we'll Lana.
While his troops were embarkine
OF steaming toward, their destination
General Pershing and his staff, sup
plemented bv a special corps OF sen-
eral staff officers. have been busy in
France preparing the way for the new
army that Is to fling itself soon
against the German lines. The camp
sites have been selected, the details
OF the final training to be given before
the move to the front begins nave
been worked out and the question OF
supply and transportation lines
studied Regiments of the national
army composed Of railroad workers
and engineers will aid I'm that work.
They, too, have been created in a few
weeks time
Tho war department has no an
nouncement to make as to Generai
Pershings disposition of his forces
Presumably that has been left to him
to decide in conference with the
French general -tlff and with officials
of the BrltL;il army. The Americans
troops VIII be an Independent iorc-
cooperating with the allies. II has
been suggested that the American
forces might he placed between the
French and British forces as a con-
meeting link, but the exigencies OF the
planned campaigns will govern that
guCgtiou