The Scotsman - Thursday, 28th June 1917, page 5

AMERICAN TROOPS IK PRANCE . SCEMS AT . THE AREIYAL . ASTONISHED GERMAN PRISONERS

The Press Association special oorrospondonli, tele ' graphing from somewhere in France under date June 26, says:—The first contingents of the troops which tbe United States is sending to. fight side by side with tho armies of the AHies landed on ji' elidh ¦soil (Jus morning. The an'ival of General Pershing in Pari3 wse the fii'st tangible sign of the intervention by the United States in the war, and to-day Franco is greeting the advance guard of the great and splendidly organised army which will follow its chief in helping France and her Allies in their great effort to secure the triumph of civilisation. There -was a slight sea haze s presaging a glorious summer day, when the arrival. of the American ships was signalled. Those privileged persons who knew what was going on passed along- the deserted qua^s ToefoTB tbe to"svrj clocks liad ^fcrvick six. Ine Port Commander's launch put off at ones with tha French authorities, and a number of American officers from the American ships were met a short distance out. Stearointr towards the lithd was a veritable armada of huge transports, whose black hulls showed clearly against the horizon, while tlw grey forms of the escorting destroyers -were almost blotted out in the leaden coloured sea. Dominating everything was an enormous American cruiser with its peoitliai ' U£)psi' wo^ks. The warships picked up their moorings with, clockwork precision, and the transports were taken in charge of tugs which towed thorn to their appointed berths. Ity this time the slight haze had disappeared, and crowds bogan to gather as the great transports Wers klovvly brought alongside the quays. On the stroke of eight o'clock work ceased for a moment, and tile troops oaaio to tho salute. Thoii there were resounding cheers from the transports, to which the populace responded with a right goodwill . Along the breakwater there were gangs of men vmo took no j^a.r4; in the demonstration of ¦welcohie ^O&hnan prisoners, who gazed ih opehmoiithed astonishment at the spectacle. Eooli transport &a sh« mada last was greeted with Joud cheers, and the scenes of enthusiasm were repeated throughout the morning. The meeting between the American General in command of the transports and the French officers on the quay was of a most friendly character. 'The Generala veteran of the CubanPhilippine, and Mexican campaigns, was overwhelmed, with questions' as to how the ydyage had passed off , but even the blandishments of experienced interviewers could make him say nothing' more than, ' We left ih fine weather with, a calm sea, and we have arrived on time. Nothing happened. 3 ' He added—"I anvhappy to be the commaridor of the first, troops who w)J5 Sgbfc shouia&r to shoulder with the heroes of the Mariie and Verdun.' 1 Tha General then left to inspect the camp where his men "will be lodged. No time was lost in landing stores, Negro labourers rushed down Hie grang-ways carryingtents , boxes of tinned meats-, biscuits, sugar, &o., wmie the troops looked on from the decks, The inen look in the pink of condition , and zpade She best of impressions on the French. Tliey will land to-niorrdw.