Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-28
j. S. FORCES TO Be
INDEPENDENT UNIT
May Be the Connecting Link
Between British and
French Armies.
ARE ALREADY ENCAMPED

Somewhere In France thousands of
Americas fighting men are today en-
camped. ready to take their places In
the trenches beside the seasoned cam
paigners of the allies.
Regulars and marines fresh from
service on the Mexican border or in
Haiti or Santo Domingo were landed in
France yesterday after a voyage in
which the German submarines were
eluded and all records were broken for
Transporting overseas a large military
unit. News of the arrival Of the troops
sent a thrill through the United States,
as 1t was unknown to the public that
any large detachment had yet left these
shores.
The forces will be q net gain to the
allies, as tho men will be fed. clothed.
armed and equipped by this govern
ment. Already there are being stored
at the encampment supplies sufficient
Tor many months.
To Be Independent Unit.
The American forces will be an indie
pendent unit, cooperating with the al
lies 1t has been suggested that the
Meeting link between the French and
British armies, but the exigencies of
the coming campaigns will decide that
question.
Press dispatches from France. pre-
sumably sent forward with the ap-
proval of Gen. Pershing's staff, show
that Gen. William L. Sibert, one of
tho new major generals of the army.
force sent abroad. under Gen. Per-
shin6 as ccmmander-in-chtef OF the
expedition.
When tho order came to prepare i'm
mediately an expeditionary force to go
to France. virtually all Of the men now
across the seas were on the Mexican
border. Gen. Pershing himself was at
his headquarters in San Antonio. There
we're no army transports available in
the Atlantic The vessels that carried
the troops were scattered on their
usual routes. Army reserve stores were
still depleted from the border mobili-
zation. Regiments were below war
strength
How General STAFF Got Busy.
That was the condition when Presi-
dent Wilson decided that the Flea Of
the French high commission should be
answered and a force Of regulars sent
at once to France. At his word the
War Department began to move.
q
afoot in the department at the time. All
the business OF preparing for the registra-
tion Of ten million men. Of providing
quarters and instructors for nearly
arms srms and Equipment Tor millions al % q
troops yet to be organized, Of expand
ing the regular army to full war
strength, of preparing and recruiting
the National Guard for war was at
hand.
Gen. Pershing dropped quietly into
the department, and set up the first
Headquarters Of the American expedf-
tionary forcea in little office hardly
large enough to hold himself and his
personal stan. There. with the aid of
the general stan. Of Secretary Baker
and of the chiefs Of the War Depart
ment bureaus. the plans were worked
out.
Announcement Of tho sending of the
force under Cen Pershing was made May
Is. The press gave the news to the coun-
try and there were daily stories.
was no longer in the department. oficers
Of the general stan suddenly were missing
from their desks No word Of this was re-
ported. Then came word from England
that Pershing and his officers were there.
All was carried through without public
ity.
Plans Made Without Publicity.
Other matters relating to the expedition
also were carried out without a word Of
publicity. The regiments that were to go
with Gen. Pershihg were all selected be-
fore he left and moving toward the sea-
coast from the border. Other regiments
also were moving north, east and west to
the points where they were to be ex-
panded and the ne movements Trss m OF the troops
scured in all this hurrying OF troop trains
over tho land
Great shipments Of war supplies began
to assemble at the embarkation ports.
lar runs with no announcement. A great
armada was made ready, supplied, equip
ped al transports, loaded with men and
guns and sent to sea, and all with vir-
tually no mention from the press
The navy bears its 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 thousands Of men rested upon the
officers and crews Of the fighting 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 precau-
tion that trained minds of the navy
could devise was taken. And the news
Just received from France shows that
the plans were well laid.
While his troops were embarking or
steaming toward their destination. Cen.
-Pershing and his star. supplemented by
a special corps of general stan officers.
have been busy in France preparing the
way for the new army that is to fling
itself soon against the German lines.
The camp sites have been selected,
the details Of the final training TO be
given before the move to tho front be-
gins have been worked out, and the
questions of supply and transportation
lines studied. Regiments Of the ma
tional army. composed of railway
workers. woodsmen and engineers. will
aid in that work. They. too, have
been created in few weeks time.