The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-24
American Soldiers Inspired
By Joyous French Welcome
at Finish of the Big Hike

heart with queer, quavery warm waves,
and congested the throat with Jumps
that caught the breath | saw big
grixily artillerymen tremblc from the
! spirit contac, of hhiS first sight OF the
French people in their gladness over
the coming Of the Americans
Tunes Become More Lively.
Again the hats OF civilians came oil,
women ceased to smile and soldiers OF
both nations stood at attention when tho
band gave the "Star Spangled Banner"
Just as they had done during the playing
of the French national air, Aiterward
the tunes became livelier, Over There"
and 4 collection OF ripping rags and
sprightly one-steps were given, In this
ilowery fashion through the unchar,ed
spaces that divide those still in the en-
bratc OF an ocean carrier from those on
shore We became acquainted with thl
French. Some OF the American soldiers
grew bolder and tried out their new
French sentences and some OF the more
adventurous OF the French tossed back
few English words which they had
learned for the occasion The union
was complete
Speaking OF English, | saw a soil.
tary British officer in the crush on the
quay lie was a captain OF engineers, a
fine looking fellow wearing huge brass
buttons on his ow-colared military
coat and mass OF harness (leathcr
belt and single strap over his right
shoulder around his torso lie led the
cheers from his section.
I'VE start for the cantonment which
has been prepared for us by the French
engineers at o'clock" said the senior
army commander the morning follow.
ing our arrival at the port OF debarka
! tlon.
Can you place me somewhere in the
column ! asked.
ITS a good three mile hike was the
laconc reply,
The upshot was that | was assigned
position in the line, As a member Of
the commanding officers staff was
given a designation to the left OF the
commanders adjutant for the first
grand march over French soil from the
| quay w INC receiving camp.
No Description Of Countrywide.
laution iorbldS detailed description
OF the surrounding countryside. excer,
IN general terms What wealth OF color
Is thus elided from this narrative But
there is nothing lost to caution IN stat
ing that II was perfect August day
when the column dropped away IN easy
strides IRON the pier, and halted in a
nearby public square for the uniurlng
OF Old Glory" from the protecting oil
skins IN which the regimcntal flag ha
been rolled up away back on the Mexi-
can border, Around abou, in dense
masses were the people OF the local
community, and no sooner did the
Stars and Stripes" hit the breeze than
French cxhilara,ion broke forth in ap-
plauSe
'for a ways as we marched we held TO
the tree spotted boulevard. Next we
branched off, up a narrow winding
country road OF macadam. 10 an cle-
waited tract Of land the highes, Of the
locality. Here was the camp site. a
collection of several hundred "huts" or
can,onment buildings The regimen,
dciiled in fours across the rough
plowcd ground to the particular sec
ton assigned for temporary occupation.
After tent HE in the torrid tempera-
ture OF the American southwest the re-
cciving camp offered conditions that
seemed ideal, no tent pins to drive no
laying out of company streets. All had
been done beforehand and our BOYS
entered a modern army establishment
Thus dry and comfortable nights were
assured
Motor Truck, Are Unlosded.
Dismiss" saidthe commander. and
soon the men were hard at il unload.
lng the motortrucks that brought the
baggage and setting up the organiza-
ion as military unit The first
march IN France was over. After mess
the men sat arpund and talked about
what they had seen out of the corners
OF their eyes. Some of those who had
marched awake were early candidates
for passes to return to the por, for the
diversions they had missed in the pas.
sage from TRANSPORT to camp
lnasmuch as thousands OF American
boys in the course OF the next year are
going to filter through this receiving
camp, ] think the details OF It's compost
ton comprise a subjec, OF interest and
moment to those at home The camp
occupies a rolling plateau some ninety
feet above sea level and fifty fee, abov,
the adjoining countryside. The build
ings have been erected around an oblong
rec,angle inclosing plaza 100 meters
wide by 100 meters long which when
leveled off and rolled will constitute
an exccllen, parade ground
Built BY French Engineers.
The whole cantonment was built by
Ftencho engineers, in accordance with
1their own designs and specifications. |
am not going to give the capacity OF the
camp, for il will be enlarged as the ex-
gencles arise, The camp is divided into
sections and each section is known by a
number The buildings are known As
the Adrian barracks, and are sectional,
portable and demountabc The wood
is OF spruce There is sufficient room
in each building for sixty cots placed
lengthwise thirty on a side, and a row
of tables and benches up its center. !
noticed that no pieces OF timber hcavie-
| than m inch p, utd,, than five ,nr "a. 4