Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-04
COMING OF LAST TROOPS
IS J0Y0UsLY GREETED
Almost as Much Enthusiasm as
When First U. S. Transports
Reached France.
MEANS COMPLETE SUCCESS
Delay Had Caused Little Anxiety, but
Had Worked Temporary Inconven-
fence to Soldiers Already There,
Because Of Lack Of Supplies.


a FRENCH SEAPORT, July (de-
layed).-The last units Of the American
expeditionary force. comprising vessels
loaded with supplies and horses, ar
rived here to-day amid the screechinS
of whistles and moaning of sirens.
Their coming. one week after the fyst
troops landed. was greeted almos. as
warmly as the arrival of the troops
themselves because 1t meant complete
success of the undertaking.
Many OF the American soldiers
crowded down to the wharf to greet
the last ships of the expedition. and
the American vessels in the harhor
which had made up previous contin-
gents of the force Joined in the well
come. The late arrival of the supply
ships was due, not only to later de-
parturc from America. but to the fact
That the vessels were slower than those
which had come before. The delay
caused little anxiety. although 1t
worked temporary Inconvenience to the
troops who had been waiting for. ma
terials to work with.
MAKE EARLY GETAWAY
TO PERMANENT CAMPS
The arrival of the supplies makes an
early getaway for permanent training
camps possible, for the troops will
need to wait only long enough for
their horses to get the kinks out of
their legs. as one officer expressed 1t
to-day One battalion leaves to-day
for Paris to parade on the Fourth of
July and leave the day following for
It's permanent training camp to be
located behind the front Somewhere
in France"
The departure OF These troops will
be the forerunner of general exodus
OF the men arriving during the past
week. although exact dates have not
yet been determined.
Probably the happiest man in mort
to-day was Rear-Admiral Gleaves. COM
mander of the convoy From the
bridge of his flagship he watched the
successful conclusion of his plans with
characteristic modesty and insisted
upon bestowing the lions share OF
credit for the crossing on navigation
officers OF his command
Skctching briefly the advance plans
whereby all units of the contingent
had TO keep a daily rendezvous with
accompanying warships, he said that.
thanks to his navigation officers, and
despite overcast skies which made
astronomical observations impossible.
each rendezvous had been infinitely and
accurately kept by each unit The
orders he issued at the outset, which
comprised scores of details. were OBJ
served the admiral declared, with such
eSactness that the contingent units and
conveying warships invariably met
. 2fh nth IL,
appointed time.
This eXactneSS on the part of the
navigation officers, the admiral said.
undoubtedly was responsible in no
small degree for the brilliant success of
the entire undertaking. because, thanks
TO it, the troop and supply ships were
never for moment unguarded
GLIMPSE INTO DETAILS
OF VAST PREPARATIONS
The admiral allowed the Associated
Press correspondent a glimpse into
some details of the exhaustive prepara
lions for departure from America.
which OF necessity provided against
every routine occurrence and countless
emergencies. Without going into de-
tail. he pointed out these preparations
included minutest plans about move
ments, signaling and even disposal OF
the vessels garbage. so that no tell
tale trails might be left.
big contributing factor in the
crossing. according to officers of both
branches of the service. was the hearty
cooperation between the army and
navy. From the time of the depar-
ture until the present there had not
been the slightest suggestions of fric-
ton. they declared, and coordination
had played its part distinctively in the
success of the expedition.
An American War Department official
arrived here to-day to inspect local
conditions and report what needs exist
that can be supplied from Washington
The officer has been making a tour of
France and making arrangements
wherever American forces are located
or will he located.
The American naval officers have
utilized the few days they have been
here to make hurried trips to Paris and
nearer French cities. To-day the ma
jority are back, ready to return to
America whenever the order may come.
All OF them. however. are keenly de-
sirous Of returning to France at the
earliest possible moment
.""HS VI tHc JUNIOR ollcerS nave eN-
pressed hope that they may gain adj
mission to aviation schools where
Americans are being schooled in hydro
planning, and several have applied to
the American embassy for assistance
III enlistinS in this branch
From the youngest ensign to the
admiral himself, the American naval
officers have been received with open
arms by their French brother officers,
and they are enjoying a hospitality
which they declare could not be ex-
ceeded.