The Washington times., 1917-07-03

The troops were served with a
tion. It consisted OF black coffee and
bread. Then they marched to bar
racks near at hand, stepping along in
lively fashion to the music Of their
band.
Envied of all their comrades, the
battalion OF General Pershing's Sam
mics at "a French port" yesterday
were putting an extra shine on their
guns and bayonets and an added
prepared for the friendly invasion Of
Paris.
They'll Celebrate, Too.
But those left behind took 1t philo-
sophically, and got busy at once ar
ranging baseball games and field
sports as their own celebration Of In
dependence Day.
That French port now looks like an
American village, all dressed up for
Fourth of July celebration. TIL
army has just about made IL over.
American flags fly in profusion every
where. The American sailors blue
green and drab khaki overshadow the
occasional dingy, war-worn uniforms
OF a few poilus here. In the streets
rumble American motor trucks. with
barrels and boxes and packages on
which are American names.
1t hasn't taken the American Sam
my nor the American Jackie very long
to get acquainted with the pretty
girls OF the town-even II both are
badly handicapped by lack OF a com
mon lingo"
Nor has 1t taken the Americans any
time to search out places to spend
money. The shopkeepers are deluged
with spenders.
Whole World Beautiful.
Over all-the joyous liberty hours
in the town no less than over the
grim war preparation in the camp
a glorious sun shines down. the trees
and grasses are green, and the whole
world il beautiful. 1t may be differ
ent later. but Sammy takes things
just as they come and is at home
everywhere.
The camp OF the American expOdi-
tlonary army is in the midst OF great
wheat fields, where women and aged
soldiers at work merge into the land
scape almost imperceptibly. Flowers
dot the roadways and two big hills
stand like sentinels on one side OF the
hut city where the troops are billet
ed" while on the other the land rolls
away to the distant sea
There is a great dispute on here as
to which unit had the honor of first
bringing the American flag to the
The drfuar ~ hfp
"lorry" is believed to have the honor.
He hustled ahead full-tilt as soon as
the big machine was swung to the
dock. and unfurled the flag at the
first hut
The French port has finally reSov-
cred from its establishment. and
pleased surprise over being selected
as the spot where history was made
in the landing OF the American forces.
Bard Is MObIIIEed.
I'VE were entirely surprised over
the arrival OF the troops" said a.
member of the chamber OF commerce
today. I'VE hurried out at once. seek
ing the band, so they could play the
Marseillaise' and the stars pangled
Banner in greeting. All of the mu-
sicians were hard at work, and IL was
difficult to round them up. Besides. |
they hadn't had much time to prac-
tice.
1--WE got all our citizens we could
to meet at the dock in greeting, but
most of our men belong to the army. |
We tried to show how we felt in our
hearts and how all France feels about !
these American soldiers"
AS a matter OF fact. the French port
was totally unprepared to welcome
the Americans. The town went qui-
city to bed one night and awoke next