Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-08-17

had not called off the expedition?
Surely not any army man who knows
Pershing. When he started after Villa
we just knew that Villas future was
settled. But the great war in Europe
was threatening to involve the United
States, Carranza was bitterly hostile,
and Villa displayed the qualities of a
will-o'-the-wisp. No one was more dis
appointed than Pershing when the or
ders to return We're issued and he, the
soldier in Mexico, had to hear them
and obey.
The great war was devastating the
world, and America, after more than
two years of waiting, was called upon
to make the world safe for democ-
racy." Foreign countries sent their
ENJOYS here to discuss with the pres
ident and the government the manner
In which America could make its
weight tell in the shortest time.
-Send US some of your men, that our
koadiers may see them atthasr side n
be heartened in the fight against Ger
man autocracy," said Balfour and Jof-
FIRE to President Wilson and Secretary
of War Baker.
"We shall send them" said President
Wilson. "AIr. Baker, whom shall we
send to command our troops in
France?"
"Send Pershing," said Mr.. Baker.
"All America knows what Pershing can
do. We know him to be not only a
brave, ~resourceful fighter, but a man of
high administrative ability. We must
send DUR French and British allies a
man who will be able not only to lead
our men in the field and show that he
is conversant with the latest advances
In military science, but also a man
who can manage our soldiers before
they get into the battle line. He must
represent US to the French and the
British worthily, as we should want to
be represented"
"You are right, Mr.. Secretary" said
President Wilson. And from what I
have heard of Pershing and seen of
him he Is the mar to send"
With absolute secrecy, without the
blare of a single bugle note or the roll
OF a single drum, Pershing sailed for
Europe. Not until he landed in Eng
land did the American public know
that the commander of the southern de-
partment, summoned to Washingt"~
ostensibly for a consultation, had It
for the European battle front.
From the farthermost Scottish head
lands to the Mediterranean coast Brit
ain and France were ailame with inter-
est, excitement and curiosity when the
announcement of Pershing's landing
was made. who is this man PERISH
ing the Americans have sent u.s." ask
ed one Londoner of another. blessed
if l know was the reply.
The newspapers ransacked their ref
erence departments and scanned their
files for material for writeups of Perish
ing. They told as much as they could
abovt his career, but 1t was all too
little to satisfy the public's curiosity.
Then the crowds fioeked to learn about
Pershing at first hand. Seldom in Eu-
ropes long history has any man receiv-
ed so wonderful a reception. Here was
American aid in the great war, which
had lasted almost three years, pre-
scented in tangible form in the person
of the tall, straight, soldierly figure of
a fighting general. The crowds went
literally wild over Pershing.
And all of this was expressed in heap
ed up Measure when the American
reached Paris. '"The d~eliverer has
comet Yive Pershing! Vive Joffre!''
rang the cries when the two famous
generals appeared side by side in the
French capital. This man has come
to France to repay the debt owed to
Lafayette, to Rochambeau. to the other
Frenchmen who risked their lives that
America might be free. They will help
to deliver France from the German in
vader," said the crowds. and they
cheered Pershing until the boulsvards
rang.