Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28

registration of ten million. Of providing
quarters and instructors for nearly $4,000
prospective officers. of finding arms and
equipment for millions Of troops yet to be
organized. of expanding the regular army
to full war strength, Of preparing and re-
cruiting the National Guard for war was
at hand.
General Pershing dropped quietly into
the department and set up the first head
quarters of the American expeditionary
forces in little office. hardly large
enough to hold himself and his personal
staff. There. with the aid of tho general
staff. of Secretary Baker and the chiefs
of the war department bureaus, the plans
we're worked out.
STORY KEPT QUIET.
Announcement of the sending Of the
force under General Pershing was made
May 49, The press gave the news to the
country. and there were daily stories
There came day when General Pershing
was no longer In the department. Officers
Of the general staff suddenly we're miss
ing from their desks. No word Of this was
reported. Then came word from England
that Pershing and his officers were there
All was carried through without publicity.
Other matters relating to the expedi-
tion were carried out without a word Of
publicity. The regiments that were to
go with General Pershing were all Sc
lected before he left and moving to-
ward the sea coast from the border.
other regiments also were moving
north. east and west to the points
where they were to be expanded. and
the movements of the troops who were
to be fret were obscured in all this
hurrying of troop trains over the land.
Great shipments of war supplies be-
gan to assemble at the embarkation
ports Liners suddenly were taken of
their regular runs with no announce
ment. A great armada was made ready.
supplied, equipped as transports loaded
with men and guns and sent to sea.
and all with virtually no mention from
the press. T.
NAVY DID ITS SHARE.
The navy bears it's full share in the
achievement. From the time the troop
ships left their docks and headed to-
ward sea. responsibility for the lives
OF their .thoHsands of mon rested shpon
the officers and crews of the lighting
ships that moved beside them or swept
free the sea lanes before them. AS
they pushed on through the days and
nights toward the danger zone where
German submarines lay in wait, every
precaution that trained minds Of the
navy could devise was taken. And the
news from France to-day shows that
the plans were we'll laid.
While his troops were embarking or
steaming toward their destination, Gem
eral Pershing and his staff, supplemented
by special corps Of general staff off,
GERS. have been busy in France preparing
the way for the new army that is to fling
itself soon against the German lines
Tho camp sites have been selected, the
details Of the final training to be given
before the move to the front begins
have been worked out and the question
Of supply and transportation, lines studied.
Regiments of the national army, composed
of railway workers and engineers, will
aid in that work. They. too. have been
created in a few weeks time.
AN INDEPENDENT FORCE.
The war department has no announce
ment to make as to General Pershing's g
disposition Of his forces: presumably that
has been left to him to decide in con-
ference with the French general staff
and officials of the British army.
The American troops will be an inde-
pendent force, cooperating with the allies.
1t has been suggested that the Ameri-
cans might be placed between the French
and British forces as a connecting link,
but the exigencies of the planned cam
paigns will govern that question.