New-York tribune., 1919-09-11
To Allied Officer Who Saw
Landing in France 1t Was
Almost Despair, With
Real Soldiers Needed
That First March in Paris
Day Came When French
Colonel Saw the Change
and Cried ''Magnifique!"
By Wilbur Forrest

Who avas avith the 1st Diuision over
there.
Just two wears and seventy-seven
days ago, before the morning haze had
begun to lift from the harbor at St.
Nazaire, France, large numbers of men
clad in the neutral brown of Uncle
Sans army began to surge down the
gangpanks of war-gray transport
ships, stretch their cramped legs and
exclaim, one by one, $50 this is
France!"
1t was the 1st Division. 1t was a uni
formed mob-from 60 to 80 per cent of
men few weeks before following civil
ian pursuits in the United States
swept into the army through patriotic
impulse or desire of adventure.
Yesterday some two million odd New
Workers and others saw that uniformed
mob swing down Fifth Avenue, a uni
formed mob no longer, but some $4,000
erect, decp-chcsted bodies with feet
hitting the pavement as clockwork,
heads erect, guns poised at the prop
erly prescribed angle, torsos swaying
rhythmically and faces wreathed in
smiles. That was the 1st Division
100 per cent soldiers.
What a contrast to that uniformed
mob which | saw scramble any old way
oil the transports just two years and
Seventy-seven days ago!
Mob Becomes an Army
New York and the nation have learned
much about the 1st Division during the
last few days. But none can contrast
what Uncle Sam hurriedly equipped
and rushed to France in June, 1917-to
reassure France that America was
really in the war--with that veteran
fighting outfit that New York saw
marcn down Fifth Avenue through hys-
tcrically enthusiastic mobs to Wash
lngton Square yesterday morning.
Nothing could prudcntly be said or
landed in France. To all but those who
Witnessed it and those military Sc
crets It was merely American soldiers
landing in France. To Allied officers
who had expected to see seasoned SOL
diers, it was almost despair. France
had celebrated America S entry into the
war. She had expected flood of
American troops, almost ready to take
their places in the line, relieving
wcaried French units who had fought
their ranks thin at Verdun She suf-
fercd rude shock. Her officers saw
the 1st Division land at st. Nazaire,
majority of it round shouldered youths
fresh from grocery stores, blacksmith
shops and elsewhere, who wore their
uniforms like gunny sacks, walked and
acted in the most unmilitary manner
and had "rookie" written all over them.
Courtesy, but No Enthusiasm
The 1st Division went into camp at
st. Nazaire. French officers, under or
ders Of the War Department at Paris,
came daily to look it over. There were
superficial smiles and courtesy galore,
but no enthusiasm They came to say
that July 4. 1917, had been declared
holiday in Paris, and begged the Amer
lean command to send American sol
dlers to march in the parade, outward
ly to help Paris celebrate, but with the
more subtle and more secret motive of
proving to war weary, discouraged
Parisians that Americans really were
arriving in France. While most of the
infantry cntrained on French boxcars
for the long ride to a training area in
Eastern France, a battalion entrained
for Paris. 1t was the I'd Battalion of
the 10th Infantry about 1000 men in
all-which New York saw on Fifth Ave
uuC ycSltludy lllOl HlIiS.
Paris had prepared wei! for its re-
ccption of American soldiers-the first
to land on French soil. Roomy bar
racks just outside the city we're
scrubbed and polished long before the
Americans arrived to occupy them.
Choice food-better than French SOL
diers got-was prepared by special
army cooks French military police
guarded the barracks enclosure to keep
the idly curious away. French generals
called on the battalion commander to
greet his arrival in the city.
Arms Full of Roses
Paris was decorated and polished
that sunshiny morning of July 4, 1917,
as Paris had never been decorated and
polished before. Crowds lined the
sidewalks and packed themselves like
sardines back from the curbs to get q
glimpse of les Americains, "les perles."
French arms were loaded with roses.
French enthusiasm was at the bursting
point.
A buglc sounded somewhere down
tho boulevard. snappy French
Chasscur band hove into view. There
was silence except for the band. 1t was
les Americans that Paris wanted to sec,
and Paris was holding its breath.
Veteran French soldiers, leading the
parade, filed by in perfect alignment.
Still silence, but for a few scattered
cheers. Flowers remained in arms on
the sidewalks, but poilus marched
smilingly on.
a great shout rent the air toward the
Place de la Concorde. A khaki band
came on blarng an American circus
time Roses filled the air and almost