The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-09
Simultaneously an Hundred
American Aviators Land in
France to Aid in Fighting
PLAN TO. SEND 100000
MEN BEFORE FALL
American Troop Movement
On Larger Scale Than An
tic!pated Will Start Soon for
Europe

A British Port June Son his
lips half-surprised smile. BLACK
Jack" pershing came stepping down
tho gang plank OF an ocean steamer
about 2 o'clock this morning.
) Along the pier was lined a bril-
liant assem- blage Hundreds of eyes
literally drank in the wiry. khaki
clad figure. whose every step wrote
history. Right at the foot of the
eangway stood an army OF noted per
eonages, leading Erltons and Amer
leans. ready 10 extend most solemn
Committee welcome" Each looked
, extremely tense, as If rehearsing his
little speech
In the background ne Welsh Fp-
silliers stood al salute. Their famous
regimental hand was playing the
Star spansied Banner Just as the
full tones thai gu wiki the Words
land or the free foated form. Ma
JORGE neral John {. Persn7ng. com
mander-in-ch ies Of the American ex-
pcditionary force 10 France. set foot
upon English soil
Then came the great formal pro-
found bows. little speeches coInpli-
ncnts inquiries John J. rershing
the "aghting soldier" who despises
. red tape or ornamental soldiery
! y
his WANING smile ard his hearty grip
As for himself there wss Instinct
feeling in the hearts OF those who
watched this scene closely that he
will not feel really AT home until
he's AT the front with his division
Thought World hncv IL.
That half surprised smile rareiy
left his lips throughout the ceremony
OF welcome He didn't seem 20 an
made His every gesture seemed fR
Sny.. TIN merely soldier going -
my post" A newspaper man told
him the people had 10 mixing vet
even OF hi. departure from the United
States
why, thought the whole world
knew about II. was his astenishsd
reply.
} Having found an opening. the re-
pcrters, English. French and Ameri-
can. cloAed ring around him. from
which there WIS no escaping until he
had made a statement For moment
he set his teeth and gazed out into
<he bay, where three American de-
strcyers that-hsd- eopynyed his ship
were anchored He looked every inch
4 fkhting man Being that, he is
reluctant speaker. He seemed to be
rejecting on the hriefest possible way
20 sum up what he wanted 10 say.
Here II the statement:
Escorted BY Our Own Ships.
THE trip has been delightful. par
ticulnriy the latter stages. when we
were escorted through the danger
xone by our own destroyers Speaking
for myself and my staff we are glad
10 be the standard bearers of America
Mn this great war for civilization
The opportunity to land at
8rtttsh port and the welcome We re-
cefved are very significant and are
deeply appreciated We expect in TIL.
course OF very short time TO ne
playing our part. which. hope, will
6e 4 very big part on the western
frcnt."
One OF the first things that caught
his eye after leaving the boat was
che fam Gus billy goat mascot OF the
welsh fusiliers To one of his star
|oncers ne remarked it reminded him
hcf the days back In 'aa and later in
so3 and '0s, when the dattos OF
|Mindanao. after they had learned 10
know and obey Il him as Fighting
Jack brought rn-gifts- of goats
Tnsn he stepped to guard whose
striped sleeve showed he had been
wounded twice. He inquired as the
nature of the wounds and the bat
ties in which the man received them