The sun., 1917-07-02
FRANCE HALLS
OUR TROOPS
AS 'SAMMIES'
Fine Impression Made by
the First of Gen. Per-
shing's Men.
LANDING Is A SURPRISE
Great Welcome From France
as News Becomes
Known.

respondent Of the Times describing the
arrival OF the American troops in
France, delayed by the censor:
Sammy has arrived to shark the bur-
den of the poilu and the Tommy. He
arrived at French port. where already
the cafes are saloons and more than
one enterprising French tradesman Is
wondering what chewing gum may be
and where II may be obtained.
THE arrival Of the first contingent of
American fighting men had been kept
such a secret that even the townspeople
were unaware that the transports were
about to enter their port. As the morn
ing wore on and the news Of the arrival
Of the Americans spread, the townspeo-
pie ran down to the dockside and before
the first transport reached its berth
there were enough there to cheer heart
lily the advent OF the new army OF lib
erty.
Mayor Announces Arrivals.
"The Mayor by noon had the welcome
news placarded throughout the town, and
as ship after ship arrived they passed
before thronged and cheering quaysides
to their berths. Great clusters of khaki
festooned the decks OF the great gray
hulls. from the portfolios flashed the
white teeth of the stokers and up in
the shrouds there was more khaki. From
the ships boats still more khaki
stretched out hands for oranges flung
by fair hands from the balconies. Then
all this khaki laughed, whistled and sang
and the ships bands played Dixie and
My Country 'Tis of Thee
Long before the last ship had made
fast keen young men In cowboy hats
and ominously get-at-able revolvers were
moving through the town to the camp
built for them by the French.
Tho voyage of the troops was sum-
ciently uneventful TO make their safe
arrival n convincing denial of the Ger
man claim Of mastery of the seas There
was quite a discussion aboard every
ship as to what the American soldier
should call himself.
Sammy" Is Their Nickname.
1T was generally agreed that the old
regular infantry term 'Doughboy' would
fail to carry conviction. Casting about
for a name. + was found that Sammy
was the only ~crname worthy to rank
with out To1'r7v' and the French
'poilu. TIE cfo'sa of the Americans
| themselves or7d an unsolicited testi-
monisl in the III ranimity with which the
French people Of the port addressed the
unknown Americans as 'Sammee.'
AN endeavor was also made during
| the voyage to provide the American
| army with song like Tipperary. The
nearest approach to it-and 1t Is long
way from being it-was the work OF an
East Side New Yorker. 1t begins
Forward, boys, to Germany, our
battle cry and includes ragtlme re-
frain, 'Hullo. France" II is good
tune, and with American ingenuity may
| faE nj hn n
| liberty. The old favorite OF the Ameri'
cans from Spanish war days. remains
however. "There'll be Hot Time in the
| Old Town Tonight
/ There certainly was a great scen'
with American, British, Russian ltaliar
and French naval and military peopi.
all jumbled up in one International salad
when the troops landed.
|
-"
THE black ingredient OF this salad
appears to have provided the most mirti
among the troops during the running
of the submarine gantlet 1 choose al
the best Of all the story of a negro
stevedore who, when Land ahoyr wa
shouted, ran up the shrouds shouting
Land? Land2 ] wants to see more OF It.
%All this was the lighter side Of th'
American arrival. 1t would be wronI
did l give the impression that th
American army was not out for bust
ness and did not understand the gravit!
of what lies ahead. Those who see thes
long limbed keen faced men from tn
West looping through the streets OF thi
town and camp can have no doubt tina
| America is in earnest.
'T was one Of the few who saw th
first detachment OF the British expedi
tionary force march through Boulogn
in the early days Of August, 1914. Com
parisons are inevitable. but by no mean
odious. The Americans have been abl
to profit by the lessons OF three years 0
war, They have a small army, but wit
wisdom they mean to make 1t 90
long way
ut needs no Sandhurst training to Sc
that the American lads who have lande
here are IT. as they would express u
They are more lean more 1.-THE, NOR
yellow than our modern Tommy. tn
revolver Is more frequent, like the Ne'
Zealanders, their faces are more uniform
ly sharper cut than those OF our armie'
Their pack is very workmanlike and mes
ties down In long roll between tn
oughly workmanlike army