Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-06-16
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BRITISH GREET
GEN. PERSH|NG
Americans and British Officers
Size Each Other Up.
READY FOR WAR BUSINESS
Officers Anxious To Get To France.
American Destroyers Escort
Steamer Into British
Port.

London. - A British transatlantic
steamer came slowly into her moor
ing in a British port the other morn
ing with the most interesting compile
ment of passengers she ever had car
ried during her years of plying be-
tween American and English ports.
The passengers consisted of the staff
of the first division of the American
army that will cooperate with the
British and French armies on French
soil in the world war-Gen. John J.
Pershing and his personal staff ana
the officers of the general stan, num-
bering nearly 60.
Met BY U. S. Warships.
There also were on board about 70
private soldiers, a clerical force of the
same number, a score Of British OIL
GERS from Canada and a large party
of adventurous civilians, including sew
eral women.
The ship arrived in an English har-
Dor. having crossed without encounter
ing any mishap or sighting hostile
craft.
Welcome ceremonious.
The coming of the American soldiers
had been kept secret outside the OIL
cial circles and there was no crowd
| gathered at the pier, as would have
; been the case had the townspeople
| been aware of the event.
Of no
! Fusilliers, in newest khaki trim and
! polished to the last button, was drawn
up in double line facing the steamer
side, with the regimental band ahead.
! A few PAGES to the front, in proud
state and held in leash by rigid priv
! ate was a mammoth white goat, the
! most famous regimental mascot of the
| British Army. A group of 40 British
and American newspaper men and a
few other persons who had come 70
! meet passengers completed the as
semDlage.
| All the steamers docks were filled
! with khaki. The waving of handker
chiefs was the only demonstration
! from the steamer or the pier until the
gangplank had been run up. When
communication had been established
| with the shore, Lieut.. Gen. Pitcairn
| Campbell, Admiral Stileman and other
officials proceeded aboard the vesse
and went through the formal introduc
tons.
American Anthem Played.
Then the British general escorted
General Pershing and his persona
staff to the dock The band played
"The Star-Spangled Banner" and al
the military men in sight stood at at
tention, while civilians uncovered
General Pershing inspected the guart
of honor, and, walking along boil
lines of soldiers, talked to several O
the privates who displayed gilt stripe:
on their sleeves, signifying wounds re
ceived in action.
Then the band played the British an
them, the English soldiers marched
smartly away, and the Americans re
turned to the ship.
On To London.
a special train carried contingent
of the American forces to London.
The arrival of the Americans IN Lon
don also was quiet one, the knowl
edge of the coming of the represen
tatives of the newest ally being un
known to the public. There were n
military formalities at the station
where the party was welcomed by tn
Earl of Derby, Minister of War; Wis
count French, commander Of the Brit
ish home forces, and the American off
Gals.
The American residents of Londol
! and various British organizations hav
prepared an extensive program of en-
tertainment for the American party
) but it is doubtful if much Of it will b.
carried out, as General Pershing, be
fore being informed Of the plans, eS
pressed a desire that there be min
mum Of anything in the nature Of
social character.
General PershiHg announced that h
ard his fellow officers were anxious t.
get into harness at their base il
! France as quickly as possible.
General Pershing and his staff wer
greeted upon their arrival at a British
port by official representatives Of tn
Admiralty, the War Office and tn
munition authorities. The War Ofic
has assigned a brigadier general O
the British Army as aide to Genera
Pershing. He took UP his duties wit
the cormander-in-chief as soon as tn
latter reached here.