New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-05

NB ADuWtUttco NUtV W
French war literature. Below IS an
opprecidtion Of the ddUdnce guard
of the American Erpeditionnry
Army By one Of the great war
rriters of France, VI. Rene Bewa-
min, the laureate Of the Poitu.
VI. Benjamin has made the Poilu
live in his tconderful sketches aud
stories. He has also ,oritten NTH
grace, delicacy and hun,or about the
British armies in France. Not0 he
is going to give his attention to tho
new Allies.
HIS first sketch, which piu be one
of a series on "The Americans IN
France" is acknowledgement to say
fattering. II shotcs observation
and imagination. We should De
qlad to belierc that it reflects the
truth in q broad sense; for If there
is one place in the World to-day
wbere ne irish TO see America justi-
fy herself by her works, that place
is France.
First of all he is Sammy: for
the Americans insist that we shall call
them Sammies, in honor of their dear
Uncle Sam, and not Teddies-a French
invention. Then he is a chief-but not
a military chief. He wears uniform
only because the United States is at
war and consequently all its citizens
are at war. His title of captain in
dicatcs only that he needs to be obeyed.
At home he is the manager Of a big
railroad company. He is dressed simply
-leggins of clear green, khaki coat,
soft hat, the strap Of which is
buckled under his chin. His habits OF
thought have not altered in the least.
A man of affairs, he keeps his brain
working on practical combinations.
He plans; ne organizes. He prepares
for those who are coming TO fight.
He arrived with the first troops.
Ahead of all the rest he stepped ashore,
but very TRANQUILITY. When the ships
entered the hsrbor the bands played
the "Marseillaise." The French burst
into cheers. But this hardly gave him
a thrill. He has no time to cherish
sentiment or to exalt himself with
phrases. He is thinking about what he
has to do to hasten the disembarka-
ton.
The Ship Arrives
The enormous ship is at a quay near
a crane. The first thing the crane takes
off is the captains auto. For, in his
case, he brings everything that is
needed-as every American does. The
auto hangs in the air for second, then
it swings, at the end Of chain, down
TO the pier. Ir it is chauffeur and
the machine is ready to be cranked.
As soon as it lands the captain enters
it and has himself driven to the office
of the superintendent of the port.
He does not look at the city. be
has none of the curiosity Of the trav-
eller lie cannot allow himself to be
distracted. He is already planning IN
his head the disembarkment.
He arrives at the superintendent
office and salutes the latter courteous
w. The superintendent is moved by
this first visit of an American. He
gazes at this strong man with broad
shoulders and a visage on which quiet
power is stamped. But the captain
does not look at the superintendent
He makes a sign. The auto waits. He
would be glad to have the superintend.
ent 60 with him.
He Seees the Port
They start. They make a tour of
the port. The superintendent. in a
fever shows all the docks that he has
emptied in advance. This ore, that
one.all for America. And the quays
and the cranes. The captain lifts his
head, and says nothing. He has seen.
Thanks. He salutes again.
Then he returns aboard his ship:
Afterward, almost instantaneously y. q
great commotion begins on all those
vessels, which bring so many troops
and such vast supplies Of baggage.
Five thousand kilos per man. Material
with which to clothe all, feed all, arm
all, with which to establish camps,
with their tents, their kitchens and
their infirmaries. And with rafting
Of chains and a putting of stationary
engines the transports empty them
selves and fill the piers to overflow
ing. Trucks by the dozen come from
the depths of the holds. Boxes by the