Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-15
.ROUS|NG RECEPTION
ACCORDED PERSH|NG
ON REACHING FRANCE
Cheering Thousands, Some
Moved to Tears, Welcome
American Army Commander
on Arrival at BouIogne

WASHINGTON. June 13.-GeneraI
Pershing will operate under General
Petain. the French field marshal. and
not under the British commander What
portion of the French front the first
American contingent will take up will
not be known for some time.
BOULOGNE. France, June 13.-Cheer-
ing thousands. some moved TO tears,
welcomed to French soil today the COM
niander-in-chief of the army which
America is to send to Join France in
r aking the world safe for democracy.
The tall. soldierly-sppearing figure
of Major General John }. Fershing
garbed in the business-like khaki of
the American army, was acclaimed as
France has seldom acclaimed another
in all her history. Frenzied crowds
packed the streets to shout their JOY
and wave the tri-color of France with
the same three colors OF the Star Span
sled Banner.
Pershing arrived at $40 this morn
iEg. He had made a quick and an I'M
eventful trip over from England. France
step on her soil. The tremendous re-
ception accorded here to the command
of the American army will be but a
marker to that which Paris Is pre-
pairing for o'clock this afternoon,
when Pershing and his STAFF arrive at
the Care du Nord.
Pershing was deeply moved by the
greeting he received.
81 consider this one of the most i'm
portant moments in American history"
he said. Our arrival on French soil,
constituting as we do the advance
guard of an American army, makes US
realize to the fullest the Importance Of
Americas participation.
"Our reception has moved us deeply.
can only reaf1rm that America has
entered the war with the intention Of
performing her full share-however
great or small, the future will dictate.
Our allies can depend upon that abso-
lutely."
French government officials formally
welcomed Pershing and his staff in the
name Of the nation and the Americans
were taken to a special train en- route
for Paris
while Pershing and the commission
in the officers of his staff disembarked
and were Immediately taken away In au-
tomobiles, non-commissioned officers and
prfvates-orderlies and attaches to the
American generals encourage, swarmed
off the vessel and mixed joyously with
the crowd at the railway station.
There were British Tommies there
to welcome their new brothers In arms
and French poilus as well. Hundreds
of handshaking and embraces-marked
the meeting of these representatives Oh
| three great armies, now pledged to a
common purpose. The crowds thrilled al
| the spectacle of the khaki groups OF
three as they marched arm in arm.
The Americans were trying out theiI
French, or swapping slang with the
Tommies, and poilus were proudly ex-
hfbiting their English words In re-
turn while the Britishers tried to COM
press into a few minutes conversation
some of the fighting lore they had
learned at the front. 1t was hard work
for the American non-coms to leave their
new-found friends and board the train
The British Tommies were part OF
those aboard several big British troop
ships discharging their human csrgoes
at the time the Americans arrived.
Boulogne harbor was alive early In
the morning awaiting the arrival OF
the American general and his staff The
first notice that the ship was finally
arriving came with the roar of salutes
harbor. Then the British troop ships
| hastily shifted their anchorage to al
low the boat with its all-important car
go to dock at the principal wharf. There
a huge American flag was flung to the
breeze from the topmost part of the
landing stage, while on the dock itself a
brilliant, colorful assembly awaited
cheering so that their welcome
must have been heard far out over The
waters as the boat slowly nosed her
way between the whistle shrieking and
gun-barking craft in between.
On the dock were British, French
and Belgian officers, all formally drawn
I'D in rigid salute as General Pershing
first put his foot on French soil and
gave evidence in the flesh of America s
determination TO fight.
Rene Besnard, under secretary OF war
was the governmental representative al
this notable scene. He arrived from
Paris barely in time to scurry to the
dock and shake hands with the Ameri-
can commander as he stepped ashore.
A small French boy who edged for
ward in the crowds that greeted the
American general was noticed by Perish
ing. He wanted something, and Perish
ing wanted to know what 1t was. He
came forward and shyly shook hands
with the big, smiling American and then
asked him to sign an autograph album
proudly displaying the signatures which
he had already obtained in il from Mar
shall Joffre and Field Marshal Haig
General Pershing stopped right there
and signed the book.
/ At Paris, II was announced today
Pershing will make his headquarters
! in the Hotel Crillon until he selects stan
quarters at the French front
/