Evening star., 1958-07-15
Crowds Flock
To Beach,
. Wave Greeting


the 9Th Fleet, little more than
"a hours after a pro-NaSser
revolt had overthrown the gov
ernment Of Iraq.
The first Marines landed
from IL landing craft at
Khalde beach just south of
this revolt-torn capital. They
came ashore from seven small
warships that appeared off,
shore.
The Marines marched OF to
Beirut's airport, which had
been closed a few hours earlier.
perhaps for the landing Of
troop carriers.
United States Ambassador
Robert McClintock urged the
$500 Americans in Lebanon to
leave the country. Ten United
States Embassy families left
today, including the wife and
son of the Ambassador.
People Flock to Beach
AS ships of the United
States 9th Fleet appeared on
the horizon about LAS pm.
Lebanese began f1ocking to the
beach by car and even on
horseback from nearby vii
lagos to watch.
People swan and sunbathed
nearby while the landing took
place.
The faces Of the Lebanese
showed their excitement, but
on the whole they took the
activity calmly.
Some waved in greeting.
Workers at construction sites
along the beach road leading
to the landing area dropped
their tools and rushed to get
a closer look.
The Marines belonged to the
I'd Battalion of the I'd Marines.
An entire battalion was
landed. BY 3:15 pm. the land
ing was completed. Non-com-
missioned officers reported that
the airport had been occupied.
The commander of the OPP
Grafton was 1t. Col. Harry
Hadd of st. Paul, MINI.
Asked where his unit had
come from, he grinned and
pointed to the ships in the
harbor.
From out there" he said.
No LiaisOn Instructions
He said he had no instruc-
tions regarding liaison with the
Lebanese Army.
A Lebanese civil aviation au-
thority representative walked
across the sands to Col. Hadd
and explained that all traffic
had been stopped at Beirut
airport.
He asked when the airlines
could expect to resume opera
tions. Col. Hadd replied he
would have to seek instructions
from higher authority.
Around 2 pm. three carrier
based aircraft were seen flying
toward the airfeld. Two re-
connaissance planes flew high
overhead.
After all these troops were
1 ashore and deployed in the di-
rection Of the airport, landing
craft continued to bring equip
ment ashore.
Antitank Guns Unloaded
Along with jeeps, ammuni-
ton and guns, several antitank
guns mounted in caterpillar
tracks were rolled on to the
beach.
The Lebanese waiting on the
beach at the beginning mingled
freely with the Marines.
One group Of Lebanese boys
picked up tow rope and helped
pull a jeep out of the surf
onto the beach.
Later the Marines slowly be-
gan clearing the beach Of civil
ianS.
The Americans were in drab
battle dress, wearing green and
yellow camouflaged helmets.
AS a landing craft unloaded
at the beaches. one Marine was
heard to swear and grumble: /:
"All my smokes got wet in that
landing"
Another Marine looked up.at
the beautiful Lebanon noun
, tains beyond the airport and
! remarked: This is a wonder
full country, but they tell me
, they're trying to wreck it."
The United States and Brit
ish embassies urged their cit
izens to stay OF the streets.
; Ten American embassy fam
lilies left Beirut Tuesday, in
cluding the wife and son Of
ambassador Robert McClin-
took, an Embassy spokesman
said.
; Another IS to 30 families of
American embassy personnel
have asked for travel orders.