The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-03

stoou uionB tne rOuuS WatCnlng the
virtually endles procession, some Of
which were miles long.
Out on the open roads the men In
the camions sang everything from the
battle hymn Of the republic to the
Tipperary. They exhibited the great
est enthusiasm for the work they have
in hand and seemed to be anxious TO
get II started.
Frequently during the day heavy
motor trucks skidded from the mud
dy roads into bitches but they were
quickly and literally picked up by as
many Americans as could get q hand
on them and set back on the road and
started again toward their destina-
tion. A little thing like lifting the end
of a five ton motor truck from a ditch
means nothing to the Americans who
are anxious to get into the fight. &
The acceptance by France of Gen.
Pcrshing's offer of all American men
and material for the present emer-
gency has in effect virtually resulted
in a unified army command, so far rs
the French army and American
forces are concerned. This is shown
by the fact that the orders issued 10
the American troops are of French
origin.
Great activity continued Sunday
throughout the zone where the Ameri-
can troops are q0artered.
:. !. W.sslsase - 1si.ssssd. .s.--.--....
Washington. March 31.--washing-
ton was thrilled today by the news
that American soldiers actually are on
their way to the fighting lines to take
places beside their hard pressed Brit
ish and French allies.
The Americans previously referred
In the official dispatch as being in the
fighting are believed now to have been
engineers or other auxiliary troops
which probably were caught at their
work, as they were a few months ago
at Cambrai.
MAJ. Gen. March. acting chief Of
staff. said tonight the war department
had not been advised that Pershing's 8
lighting men were moving to places
In the British French line, but the
news has been expected ever since
the creation OF a unified command
under the French chief of staff, Gen.
Foch. and Gen. Pershing's formal Of
fer Of all the available American re-
sources.
Too much may not be said about
the number OF the American troops
because OF military reasons. 1t is no
violation of the censorship, however.
to say that probably 100000 Or more
American lighting men fully equipped
and intensively trained in the school
OF actual battle conditions are avail
able at once to be thrown into places
to strengthen the British and French
lines wherever they threaten to
buckle under the ferocity of the Ger
man onslaughts.
Every officer OF the American gen.
eral STAFF and every member of Presi-
dent Wilson's administration have
been looking forward to the day when
American troops would actually take
their places i'm the battle now raging.
Easter crowds on parade on Pennsyl-
vania avenue about the White House
grounds heard the news and gathered
about newspaper bulletin boards
where the Associated Press dispatches
were posted and read the newspapers
with che greatest enthusiasm.
War department officials had no
knowledge tonight OF the measure
taken by Gen. Foch or his instructions
to Gen Pershing. Until detailed re-
ports come from the American com
mander they will he unable to ap-
prise congress in their plans which
The situation i'm France may call for
The Americanization OF n large sec
lion of France. of railways, of ports
of debarkation and Of portion of the
battle front has been under way. The
apparent German determination to
bring the war to an issue ut once in
Heated by the terrible power already
displayed in the German offensive.
may upset all these plans.