The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-07-06
Daniels:
Thanks.

just come to the War Department that
the last ships conveying General Per-
shing expeditionary force to France
arrived safely today. AS you know,
the navy assumed the responsibility
for the safety of these ships on the
sea and through the danger zone. The
ships themselves and their convoys
were In the hands of the navy and
now that they have arrived and car
ried, without the loss of man, our
soldiers who are the first to represent
America in the battle for democracy,
[ beg leave to tender to YOU, to the
admiral and to the navy the hearty
thanks of the War Department and of
the army. This splendid achievement
is an auspicious beginning and it has
been characterized throughout by the
most cordial and effective cooperation
between the two military services.
Cordially yours,
(Slgned) Newton D. Baker"
The contingent which arrived in
France today, completing the first
movement of American troops over
seas, were the men who took passage
IN slower boats. 1t was for them the
government feared most as the ships.
through lack of speed, were the most
defenseless against submarines. It
was for this reason that the War and
navy Departments have been in
mental terror since premature publ
cation was made several days ago
through the Creel committee on pub
lie information of the arrival of the
first contingent of troops.
And there is another thing-a vi
clous thing that an immediate inyesti-
cation is to be ordered to delve into.
1T is the question of spies in the very
heart of the. naval service, because
otherwise not only would German SUBJ
marines have been unable to know
thaG American troops were coming.
put most certainly would not have
known the course they were taking on
.he nlgh seas so as to be able to lie
Al Dlue water ambush for them far
ousside the boundaries of the ordi-
a aiff ffons n Danger.
How this information was obtained.
by whom and how it was sent to
Germany in order that fleet of SUBJ
marines might be sent out to waylay
and slaughter the American troops
and cast a chill of terror throughout
the American nation-example of
German frightfulness-is what the in
vestigation is to determine.
How another flotilla of German SUBJ
marines could know the port for which
the American ships were bound, so as
to lie in the right spot within the
submarine zone and attack another
contingent, is further proof, according
to the belief here tonight, of a leak
OF government secrets which imperils
the life of every American sailor and
soldiers who sails the high seas.
Vice Admiral Williams S. Sims, in
command of the American ships in
european waters, and Rear Admiral
Albert Gleaves, in direct command
of the destroyer flotilla, are the men
to whom credit for bringing the Amer
lean troops safely through must be
given. Behind the scenes is Rear
Admiral Benz, chief of operations,
who planned out the entire expedition
and every detail of it. He is the man
who told the others what to do. And
here is the story of the whole expedi-
ton, now permitted to be published
Tor the hrSt time:
The regulars and marines who COM
prise the expedition were moved from
thelr various posts to the seaboard
with the utmost secrecy. Not word
OF what was going on was printed
anywhere. Even men in the service
did not know their comrades in the
next tent were going away or where
they had gone after they went.
Veterans.
The force is made up of trained
and seasoned men, the troopers, vet
Grams of Mexico and Philippine SER
vice, men from the battlefields Of
Santo Domingo, Haiti and Cuba
ihere also was springling of re-
cruits-volunteers for European
service who were especially picked at
their own request. These men were
mostly newcomers in the marine corps.
The men were moved to the sea-
board and went aboard ship at several
Atlantic ports. 1t was known along
the water fronts of several of the
ports In question what was going on,
but the general public did not know
| ana the censorship on all cables was
depended upon to prevent news of the
movement from reaching Germany.
After t6e troops were at sea. their
SHIPS filled with equipment of all sorts
everything they could need, from
gas basks to bully beef-days went
past without word. There was little
wlrelessing done; so that no German
station could pick out Of the air
hint of the movement or Judge by the
radio waves the location of the trans
ports. Each of the transports was
conveyed by warships. The other war