Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-03
SIGHT is PARALYz|Nc
ITO GERMAN PRISONERS
They Refuse to Believe Americans
Have Arrived to Eight Their
~ Fellow.Countrymcn.
FRENCH PEOPLE ARE JUBILANT
Great Cry Of Welcome to Pcrshing's
Men Rises From Waiting Throngs
as Stars and Stripes Are Recog-
mixed :on Mastheads OF Vessels.
fBy Associated Pres..1

A FRENCH PORT. June 81 delayed
By. eensor).-only few hours after
tho arrival Of the American expedi-
tionary force at this port. the men
were, established in their camp. BY
noontime order had been brought out
OF chaos. The troops, after mess. be-
gan the work Of putting their camp
IN ofdeE. task which they accom-
plished, with the aid Of few score of
amazed and seemingly paralyzed Ger
man prisoners, most of whom refused
to believe that Americans actually had
arrived to fight their countrymen.
Tho general commanding the troops
established headquarters for the time
being in a great wooden shack in the
camp, oohstructcd lonG before for other
troops. sssHe and his staff sat down to
q genuine American luncheon. to which
the EeReral invited the correspondents.
Rustic inhabitants peered in from the
pear-by road.
The admiral in command OF the
American transports and their escorts,
after disposinE OF the first rush of
routine business aboard his flagship,
save 'the correspondents a description
of tho voyage. He said it was broken
only -by incidents which already had
been cabled to Washingto and which
he desired to be given out there, IL at
all. His officers and the army officers
were. almost boyishly tublant over
failure Of submarines to harm any of
the Transports.
IHRsT TRANSPORTS
: ARRIVE AT NIGHT
The first American transports ar
rivedtat night, and because of the late
hour aRnd unexpected selection of this
towns-they were seen by few. At early
daw1e the remaining vessels could be
seen nearly a mile down the harbor
preceded by a battleship and sur
rounded on every side by destroyers
AS tho American flags on the topmasts
became visible. a great cry OF welcome
surged from the waiting crowds
When the vessels neared the quay
bugles sounded. and tho soldiers and
sailors saluted tho nag. The crowd
stood xilent. as il in awe, for a mo-
mentE--Hats were removed instinctively
as the-etrains OF America" pealed out
The People Joined in tremendous
chorus Hof enthusiastic welcome as the
morning salute to the colors was con-
cludeda
Although the arrival Of the ships
came.aimost as complete surprise to
the Inhabitants of the town. by the
time the troops were in the streets. the
town-was ablaze with colors.
By-campanies the soldiers started for
the cMnp. two miles from town. where
they are to remain for the present in
training and in preparation. for transfer
ncarT.to the front
The:people cheered each company as
IT passed each van and truck. and then,
in their enthusiasm. forgctful OF the
heat. --thrned toward the camp. They
were eager not to miss the slightest
detail-of the encampment.
There was an unusual sight in the
harborafter the last of the American
shipsraSrived. Boats flashed back and
forthiEWith officers from the flagship
on visits to the smaller vessels
Signals. were wiEwaGged from ship to
ship. As rapidly as could be, the
news--was spread that not a single
vessel had fallen victim to the dreaded
submarines, and that American troops,
SO eagerly awaited, were actually in
FranFe. ready and anxious to take up
the light ~. l.