The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1917-06-30
AMERICAN ARMY
REACHES FRANCE
Within Past Iwenty-Four Hours
Thousands OF Men. Seasoned Reg
ulars Have Landed on Shores
OF France.
81, E.. /. Berti.li.)

y French Seaport, June p. $50 p.
III. PASSED by the censor )-PeIshing
toys are here.
Thousands OF them came within the
las "a hours out OF the misty vastness
of the sea, U-Boat infested sea that
held no terrors for them-not a tor
pedo scratch on a transport; not a
single man lost. Spick and span
with weather Drowned faces, their
eyes sparkling fight, every one Of Them
every inch a man, they tramped down
the gangWays TO strains of the Star
Spangled Banner" into a pandemoni
um OF unending cheers.
Tonight they are already in camp,
itching to get to the front. The camp
is not far from here. 1t is in charge
OF General William L. Sibert who
came in command of the troops. Per
shing is coming over from Paris 40
morrow to greet them.
AS these thousands Of Americans
,
scores of German prisoners stood on
the pier. Teeth set, they looked half
sideways at these strapping new
comers. Those who watched these
prisoners could discern grudging
admiration in iheir looks
The remarkable things about the
scores attending the real entrance Of
the United States into the world war
was the safe arrival OF the expedition
touching warmth Of their receptions.
Not an inkling OF the arrival had !cSk-
ed out before hand There had been
no preparations, 10 programs with
speeches and song, no reception com
mittee or the like, Not until the
transports had safely arrived OFF this
port ready to disembark did the mo-
mentous news become known. Then
the people simply go. wild.
The first transport struck her grey
nose into the harbor in the early
morning. The piers We're swarming
with thousands. OF men there were
few. of course, only aged and wounded;
the others are at the front. The real
ization that these now comers are
shortly to fight side by side with the
men of this port who are a ready in
the thick Of tattle drove the women
frantic With gratitude.
The American troops answered the
cheers by throwing small silver coins
ashore. A roaring among the street
urohins followed. They did not spend
the coins for candy. They wrapped
them up carefully in jheir ragged
handkerchiefs to save them as sacred
souvenirs.
The Decentralization passed off in
the most orderly manner. There was
not the slightest hitch. Ship after
ship slipped into her berth, discharg-
| ing men and equipment. Confusion
seemed an unknown quantity to 10
these khaki clad youths and their OF
ficers.
From the piers the American troops
swung Off through the streets OF this
port, where the whole populace had
turned out to give them a tremendous
ovation. The crowds showered flow
ers, fruits. cigarettes and dainries up
the marchers
''Vive rAmeriGue" was an unend'nr
cry. And IS proof that but one con-
fident thought was in the hearts of
those cheering thousands this shout
was repeated over and over again:
you'll chase the Germans out of
our country"
'We will came the thunderoas
chorus from the Yankee boys
Their reception and progress
through the city was one great triumph
al march. The French onlookers re
marked time and again upon the youth
and physique of the Americans.
For France this was the proudest
the happicst day since the Narne.
q