New-York tribune., 1919-08-31

~
of distinguished French civilians
and French, British and Belgian Of
flcers stood near the gangplank, inn
patient to grasp Pershing's hand.
Soldiers on the deck cheered. Then
the gangplank ascended and Perish
ing waited until the representa-
tives of the Allied powers and the
French government had come
aboard to greet him. Brief speeches
of welcome were made. Some soft
hearted folk wept
Five minutes after Pershing had
inspected the waiting line of poilus
under the station shed disrepu-
table looking ship poked it's nose
into the basin. Black faces lined
the rail. They were negroes from
the French colonies in Africa.
Thus came white, black and yellow
men--all bent on beating the Ger
mans--none fully cognizant of what
the future would bring; all conf
dent in the ultimate result, whether
working with pick or shovel or
creating an A. E. +. in France.
Anxious to get to Paris and there
establish his headquarters, General
Pershing boarded a special train
rot long after his arrival. The train
was delayed somewhat until num-
Der of American soldiers, acting as
orderlies to the general staff, could
bc taken from the embraces of
enthusiastic poilus and British Tom
mics, who insisted on embracing
them IN the approved French fash
ION. 1t was, however, the first meet
ing of representatives of the three
great armies, and historic in itself.
General Makes q Promise
And here at Boulogne General
Fershlng made promise to small
group of American newspaper rep
resentatives who greeted him which
meant much to the Allies.
''W hat can we cable home as COM
ing directly from you?" the Cen
eral was asked. Haltingly he spoke
the following message, which I
quote from my scrapbook:
Il consider this one of the most
important moments in American
history. Our arrival on French soil,
constituting as we do the advance
guard OF an American army, makes
us realize TO the fullest the impor-
tance Of Americas participation.
Our reception has moved US most
deeply | can only reahirm that
America has entered the war with
the intention of performing her full
share-however great or small the
future will dictate. Our Allies can
depend upon that absolutely"
Pershing knew the American SOL
der and Americas soldier material
! as we'll as he knew the material for
his general staff.
Arriving in Paris, where he was
acclaimed by tens Of thousands who
lined the streets, Pershing took
! quarters at The Hotel Crillon and
established Uncle Sans first gen
eral headquarters in an unosten-
tatious building on Rue Constantin
within a short distance of Napo
Icons tomb. He was forced to de-
vote himself during the first two
days in Paris to a series Of ban
quets and functions in his honor.
Early on the third day he began to
build the A. L. +.
Pershing's activity has not been linn
tied to desk work. AS nearly as can be
figured he has travelled a number
OF miles, equal to the distance of
one and one-half times around the
world over French roads, by auto
and railroads, and since the armis-
tice alone has walked approximately
900 miles, making personal inspec-
tions of the ranks, while reviewing
practically every division in France.
The generals aides, all younger
men, may testify that they have
worked hard for many months to
keep in physical trim equal to that
of their chief. Secretary of War
Baker some months ago attempted
to accompany the general during
one of his personal inspections.
where the troops by regiments stood
at attention waiting for the general
to pass. Baker ''fell out" before one
regiment had been inspected.
Cesar Santin, chauffeur of the bic
"Four Star" automobile since the
carly days of the war, testifies that
he has conducted the general over
$4,000 miles of French highways.
often under fire. The officer in
charge of Pershing's special train
declares that he has steamed"
many thousands Of miles.
Few of Uncle Sans more than
two million soldiers who were in