northern region. It was a historic moment-the first time a soldier in American uniform had landed on the European continent, with sword in hand, for the purpose of using it against an enemy. Said General Dumas: "I salute the United States of America, which has now become united to the United States of Europe." On the landing quay was a detachment of French Infantry in battle uniform, who had only recently come from the trenches. As the American general passed they came to salute and stood like iron statues as he passed down the line.

General Pershing was met by a large deputation representing the French Government and the French and British Armies and Navies. Great crowds gathered in the streets and greeted the American commander with tremendous enthusiasm. In Paris he received the greatest reception given to anyone up to that time, since the beginning of the war. The streets were filled with cheering crowds, held back by dense ranks of soldiers, which patrolled the route of the party from the Gard du Nord to the Hotel de Crillon, at which the General made his headquarters. As the American party passed, tens of thousands of American flags were waved and cries of "Vive l'Amérique" became a sustained roar all along the way. Bands at the station played the "Star Spangled Banner" and the "Marseillaise." Among those who greeted him were Marshal Joffre, M. Viviani, General Foch and Ambassador Sharp. In the evening General Pershing dined at the American Embassy, where he met the chief members of the Cabinet and officers of the army and navy. General Pershing was received as the representative, the symbol of the American power that was coming to the rescue of the French people, and recognizing this he acted with great

tact.

On June 14th, the next day after his arrival in France, he visited the tomb of Napoleon, and stood with uncovered head before the resting place of the famous French soldier. The ceremony connected with this visit was of a striking character. As the American party entered the grounds of the Hotel des Invalides they passed a detachment of veterans of French wars, thrown up at salute. Passing into the vast rotunda,

with its walls hung with battle flags, the party proceeded below to the crypt where the sarcophagus of Napoleon reposed. Entrance to this crypt is restricted to crowned heads or the rulers of states. Conducted by Marshal Joffre, General Pershing and his staff proceeded to the crypt. The great key was inserted in the brass door, and the French escort stepped aside, leaving General Pershing facing the door alone. He turned the key and opened the door. From an alcove inside of the crypt, the governor of the Invalides took Napoleon's sword, handed it to General Pershing, who held it at salute and then kissed the hilt. The same ceremony was followed with the cross of the cordon of the Legion of Honor. This was the greatest honor France ever bestowed on any man. No dignitary of France nor foreign king had ever before been allowed to hold the historic relics in his hand.

After his visit to the Invalides, General Pershing was received by President Poincaré, and later visited the Chamber of Deputies, where the deputies arose and stood cheering as the General entered the diplomatic box. Premier Ribot and M. Viviani made eloquent orations in honor of the United States, after which General Pershing was compelled to respond to another demonstration.

On June 15th General Pershing and General Joffre were given a remarkable reception by the people of Paris, as they stood bareheaded together on the balcony of the military club looking down on the excited crowd.

The climax of the welcome came in the afternoon when he visited Picpus Cemetery, where he placed a wreath of American Beauty roses on the tomb of Lafayette. The ceremony was brief and impressive. The Marquis de Chambrun, a descendant of Lafayette, said a few words welcoming General Pershing, who replied simply, expressing the great pleasure of every American to visit the tomb of one who had done so much for the United States.

General Pershing expressed the feeling of the American people when he said, as he approached the tomb:

"Lafayette, we are here.

His third, and last day, in Paris was occupied by official calls, and a visit to the Senate, where he was received with a

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF

March 28.1918.

To General Foch

chat

name ant

Tham come to say to you the American people would hardish a great honor for our troops were they engaged in the presents battle, goask in of you in my in that of the American people. There is at this momente no Other question than that of fighting. Infauiry, Artellery, Aviation-ale cheat are yours to dispose of mill. Ochins are coming

I have

as

you

who will be as mammerous as may the necessary I have come to say to you that the Americare people would be proud to he engaged in the greatst bause of history.

Pershing

Facsimile of the historic letter from the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, placing the American troops at the disposal of the Generalissimo of the Allied armies.

887912

great demonstration, and on the next day he proceeded to his work of organizing American participation in the war.

General Pershing had been preceded to France by various special units of the American Army, and on May 24th the first United States combatant corps went to the front under Captain E. I. Tinkham and Lieutenant Scully, of Princeton. They consisted mainly of Cornell undergraduates. Other American sections drilling for active participation in the fighting included detachments from Andover, Dartmouth, Harvard, Johns-Hopkins, Yale, Chicago, Princeton and Williams College. Most of them intended to serve in the American Ambulance Corps, but many had joined the fighting forces after the United States entered the war. According to an official statement issued by the British War Office on May 28th, including the Americans serving in the British and French armies there were nearly one hundred thousand Americans in France.

The first fighting contingents of the United States Army arrived in France on June 26, 1917. The transports which carried them had been attacked by submarines, but they arrived safely. They were under the command of MajorGeneral William L. Sibert. A wild welcome was given them as they drew near the quay, and the town took on a holiday appearance. They were soon transferred to a camp near the port where they were inspected by General Pershing. General Pershing issued a statement declaring his satisfaction with the appearance of the men, and with the provisions which had been made for their comfort, and issued a general order emphasizing the necessity of good behaviour.

The 4th of July, 1917, was enthusiastically celebrated throughout Paris. There the chief feature of interest was the presence of a battalion of United States troops, which was about to leave for training behind the battle front. The streets were thronged with enthusiastic spectators, and the Stars and Stripes were flying from every building and even from automobiles, cabs, carts and horses' bridles.

The greeting given the American troops who passed through England was quite as enthusiastic. On August 15th a great demonstration took place when a large contingent

of United States troops marched through the streets of London, escorted by the famous bands of the English, Scotch and Irish Guards. In every possible way the English sought to show their appreciation of the fact that America had come to their aid in the great struggle.

The story of the life of the American Army behind the lines of France would fill a volume. The hospitality of the French people had something pathetic in it. They were expecting miracles of their new allies-and miracles were performed, as the world now knows.

Camps were constructed on a huge scale. Enormous barracks were erected, railways built and telegraphs and telephones installed under the direction of American skilled workmen, and soon there were Y. M. C. A. canteens, Red Cross canteens, clubs for officers and men, theaters and moving pictures for the army, and a prodigious amount of food, all from America. In every little old French village American soldiers were billeted in cottages and farm houses. They were wonderful beings to their French hosts, and they did their best to entertain them.

The training of the troops was carried on in the most elaborate fashion. Most of them had been trained in America, before they came to France, but France was the finishing school. The aviators were perfected in their work, the artillery and the infantry put under charge of French experts and taught the latest developments in the art of war. And all was done with a business-like determination.

Actual and intensive training began on July 25th. Trenches were dug in way of practice with an enthusiasm equal to that with which soldiers dig themselves in under actual artillery fire. Dummies were constructed for bayonet practice, and the men taught the methods of attack. Instruction in gas masks was begun, scouting, trench raiding, target practice and operations of all kinds, which might be called for in actual combat, were made the subject of careful instruction. Lectures were delivered by American and allied officers, who were experts in modern warfare. Under such training it was no wonder that by the spring of 1918 American troops were able to hold their own against the best soldiers of Europe.