The Washington herald., 1917-06-29
TROOPS AWAIT
CALL TO front
France Lionizes American
Regulars Who Are Eager
for Battle

Special CEble to The Washington FerAid
Paris. June S.-There was but ono
subject Of discussion here today, but
one thought in every ones mind-the
arrival Of Pershing's troops. OF the
American fighters who arrived at q
French seaport yesterday, Paris has
not yet had a glimpse. They are in
camp somewhere in France" getting
ready to go to the front.
Khaki-clad American soIdiers-thous-
ands OF them-with bluejackets from
the conveying fleet. are being lion
lied as not even French troops have
been.
Their behavior has been excellent
despite the fullest liberty which has
been allowed. The men are in won
derful physical condition for the work
ahead. They are keen to 20 in the
trenches and are impatient at the
necessary delay in sending them 10 the
front.
The French people are making heroes
OF them, and nothing Is too good for
the Americans
After a brief rest at their camp the
men will be transported to a spot i'm
medtately in the rear OF the fighting
line, where. in sound Of the cannon,
they will receive their last intensive
training before taking over the sector
OF trenches assigned 10 them. As
their officers have followed every new
device OF war with the keen study OF
professional soldiers, it is believed
very brief space of time will elapse
before the Stars and Stripes are car
Tied into battle by the regulars.
When other detachments OF the
American overseas forces will land is
not permitted TO be published, but
there are indications that Mai Gen.
William L. Sibert. second in command
10 Gen. Pershing. will soon have a
null war strength division Of American
troops. seasoned and hardened bv
three years field service in Mexico and
equal 10 the best troops in the world.
To the French soldiers, who have
known all along that the American
professional soldier-the regular-was
second 70 none I'm the world. the resi-
ments are nevertheless a source of
respectful admiration.
Others Follow.
Within six months. the authorities
now feel confident an army Of between
10000 and 5Oo,0oe Americans, inrlud.
ing several divisions Of the National
Guard will be at the front.
Maj. Gen. Pershing is to be made
lieutenant general as soon as Con.
gress, in its own good time, responds
TO the appeal made almost daily by
the War Department that il recreatc
that rank In order that the COM
mander Of the American expeditionary
force may take place with the other
corps commanders in the allied bat
tie line.
In being given this rank. Gen.
Pershing will probably be placed in
command not OF a division, as has
been popularity supposed. but Of a
corps consisting OF three or four d.
visions. Subsequently it will be neces-
sary. as the force Of American fght-
ing troops increases. TO designate a
general in comamnd Of The American
army in France" which. OF course,
will consist of several corps at least.
1t rests with Pershing TO win for
himself that larger command. though
there are few officers here who doubt
that it will fall TO the man Of the
iron face" to be the Haig or the
Petain OF the American force.
1t is probable that the first Ameri-
can division actually to enter the
trenches will be under the direct COM
mand Of Maj. Gen. William L. Sibert
of Panama Canal fame. The first
fighting division, Il is thought. will be
given to Sibert simply from the fact
that he happened to be the first ot
Pershing's subordinate major gen.
erals to reach France, though when
an entire corps is at the front Siber;
might be outranked by Mai. Gen.
John F. Morrison, who is his senior
and would probably command another
division.