The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-06-12
'BLACK JACK" PERSHING
ARRIVES AT FRONT

A British Port, June S.-On his lips
a half surprised smile BLACK jack
Pershing came stepping down the
gang plank of an ocean steamer about
9 o'clock this morning.
Along the pier was lined brilliant
assemblage Hundreds of eyes liter
alIy crank in the wiry khakl-clad ng-
ure whose very step wrote history
Right at the foot of the gangway stood
an army of noted personages, leading
Britons and Americans, ready to ex-
tend most solemn committee well
come" Each looked extremely tense,
as if rehearsing his little speech.
In the background the Welsh Fusil-
iers stood at salute. Their famous
regimental band was playing the Star
Spangled Banner Just as the full
tones that go with the words Land
of the free" hoated forth, Major Gener-
al John J. Pershing, commander-ln-
chief of the American expeditionary
force to France, set foot upon Eng
lish SOIL
At the Front.
Then came the great formal pro-
found bows, little speeches, compli-
ments, inquiries John J. Pershing,
the fighting soldier who despises
"red tape or ornamental soldiery,
made everybody feel at home with his
winning smile and his hearty grip.
AS for himself, there was a dlstlnc1
feeling in the hearts of those who
watched this scene closely that he
will not feel really "at home" until
he's at the front with his division.
That half surprised smile rarely
left his lips throughout the ceremony
of welcome He didn't seem to un-
derstand why all this fuss was being
made. His very gesture seemed to
say, 81 am merely soldier going to
my post" A. newspaper man told him
the people had no inkling yet even OF
his departure from the United States.
"Why, l thought the whole world
knew about it, was his astonishing
reply.
Having found an opening, the re-
porters, English, French and Amer1-
can, closed a ring around him from
which there was no escaping, until be
had made a statement. For moment
he set his teeth and gazed out into
the bay where three American de-
stroyers that had conveyed his ships
were anchored. He looked every inch
a fitting men. Being that he is a re-
luctant speaker he seemed to be re-
flecting on the briefest possible way
to sum up what he wanted 70 Say. Here
is the statement
A Big Part
"The trip has been delightful, par
ticularly the latter stages when we
were escorted through the danger
zone by our own destroyers. Speak
ing for myself and my staff we were
glad to be the standard-bearers of
America in this great war for civlll-
zation.
'The opportunity to land at Brit
ish port and the welcome we received
are very significant and are deeply ap-
preciated. We expect in the course
of a very short time to be playing our
part, which, I hope, will be very big
part on the western 'front.' 4
One of the first things that caught
his eye after leaving the boat was the
famous billy goat mascot of the Welsh
Fusiliers. To one of his staff officers
he remarked it reminded him of the
days back in '99 and later in '03 and
'O6 when the dattos of Mindanao, after
they had learned to know and obey
him as Fighting Jack brought him
gifts of goats. Then he stepped to a.
guard whose striped sleeve showed
he had been wounded twice. He IN
quired as to the nature of the wounds
and the battles in which the man re-
ceived them. !