The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-06-28
VOL. XLViH
Passed Through German Submarine
Zone Without Mishap-Transporta-
ton Plans Worked Out by General
Pershing and the War Department
Put Through With Clock-Like Pre-
Observation-Disclosures Thrilled

peTSning ana tne var DtpdF sHeNC
Put through With Clock-Like Pre-
cision-Wa Washington Thrilled
Washington Dispatch,S June 27.
The advance guard of the mighty |
army the United States is preparing !
70 send against German is on French
soil tonight.
In defiance of the German subma-
rines. thousands of seasoned regulars
and marines, trained fighting men
with the tan of long service on the
Mexican border or in Haiti or Santo
Domingo still on their faces, have
been hastened over seas to fight be-
Side the French, the British, the Bel
oian. the Russian, the Portuguese and
the Italian troops on the Western
front.
Arrival Thrills Washington
News of the safe arrival of the
troops sent a new thrill through
Washington. No formal announce
ment came from the War Department.
None will come, probably, until Ma
ior General Pershing's official report
has been received. Then there may
oe a statement as to the numbers
and composition of the advalce
guard.
Press dispatches from France, pre-
sumably sent forward with the ap-
proyal of General Pershing's staff,
Show that Major General Sibert, one
of the new major generals of the ar
nv, has been given command of the
first force sent abroad, under Cen
of the expedition.
New Transportation Record
One thing stands out sharply, de-
spite the fact that the size of the task
that has been accomplished is not full
ly revealed as yet. This is that
American enterprise has set a new
record for the transportation OF
troops.
Considering the distance to be
covered and the fact that all prepa-
rations had to be made after the or
der came from the White House the
night of May 18, it is practically
certain that never before has a mill
tary expedition of this size been as
sembled, conveyed and landed by any
nation. The only rival in magnitude
is the movement of British troops tt
South Africa in the Boer War, ant
that was made over the~seas tina
were unhampered by submarines
mines Or other obstacles.
The American forces will be fed
clothed, armed and equipped by th'
United States. Around them at tn,
camp on French soil tonight are be
ing stored supplies that will kee]
them going for months and more will
follow.
Plans Worked Like a Clock
General Pershing and his staff hav
)een busy for days preparing for tn
rival of the men. Despite tn
enormous difficulties Of unprepared
ness and submarine dangers that fac
ID them, the plans of the army gen
eral staff have gone through wit
rlock-like precision.
When the order came to prepar
Immediately an expeditionary fore
10 go to France, virtually all of tn
men now across the seas were on tn
Mexican border. General Pershin
Himself was at his headquarters
San Antonio. There were no arm
transports available in the Atlanti
The vessels that carried the trooI
were scattered on their usual route
Army reserve stores were still d.
pleted from the border mobilizatio
Regiments were below war strengt
That was the condition when Pre-
ident Wilson decided that the plt
Of the French high commission shou
be answered an force of regula
sent at once to France. At his wol
the War Department began to NOV
General Pershing was summon
quietly to Washington.
Work without End
There was a thousand activiti
afoot in the department at the tim
All the business of preparing for t.
eglstration of ten million men,
providing quarters and instructors f
early $4,000 prospective officers, f
finding arms and equipment for m
hons of troops yet to be organize
OF expanding the regular army to II
war strength, of preparing and
crulting the National Quad for w;
was at hand.
General Pershing dropped quiet
into the department and set up
lrst headquarters of the Amerlc
sexpeditionary forces in a little Off
hardly large enough to hold hims
and his personal staff. There, wi
the aid of the general staff, of s.
retary of War Baker and Of the chi'
of. the War Department bureaus,
plans were worked out.
Announcement of the sending of
1once under General Pershidg v
made May 18. There came a d
when General Pershing was no lo1
er IN the department. Officers of
general staff suddenly were missi
from their desks. No word of t
was repOrted hv the nress TT
came word from England that P
shing and his officers were there.
Press Maintained Secrecy
Other matters relating to the
pendltlon were carried out withou
word of publicity. The regime
tnat were to go with General Per
ing were all selected before he
ana moving toward the seacoast fl
the border. Other regiments g
were moving north, east and west