BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2233, 20 August 1914, Page 5

BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE

/ - i XARmp ORGANISATION BY LORD KITCHENER xv: -Kt, ..-..'. :* \ '.■•■>' London, 'August 17. ■ _ • The Presa Bureau states that the British Expeditionary Force has been safely landed in France.. The embarkation, transportation, and debarkation of J men and stores were carried out with the greatest precision and without a single casualty. <..'.,.,' . . . » ■ / \ Field-Marshal Sir John FrenchjCommander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, crossed to France, on Friday night. He was accorded a great reception in Paris, where he conferred with the French Ministers. ."•• i:./■." ■'■' The dispatch of the British Expeditionary: Force was carried out' with remarkable secrecy, The success of the movement was highly characteristic of . Lord Kitchener's methods. ■'<..,. 'The-troops were silently collected) and the drivers of troop trains only received instructions,as to their destinations.as the trains started. i The ohly.hints given the public: of the approaching, departure were the "-visits of Sir John French and other Generals to Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House, the King's visit J to Aldershot, and the Queen's visit to Tid- ':.." worth, where she personally farewelled the officers and presented gifts to the men of her own regimen);. t - , ■'■'' i ■■V-^^^;^;/•vAVGBiM > ■■:SOIiEMN'BUBINBB'B. , ■: "■ ;■. : '- * •-.''■.• • -v.-. '- ; ." : . •"■.•■.' ' ■'.'■.••' ' The embarkation was a grim," solemn business, there,being no farewells on the piers. --\ ...-./. : -.«.'• ■■,'.-'..'( ' . ■' ~ '. _ '.Long lines of,khaki-clad men marched to the decks, and early in the morning the "troopships slipped quietly .away.- The"captains of the transports did -, not know their destination 1 until they opened their sealed orders three miles out. Some of the troopships were hot even aware that they were' being escorted, until a submarine waß suddenly:seen passing, partially submerged. . 'Sir John French and his staff stood on the quarterdeck of. a Bco'ut cruiser, as she approached-with debks cleared far action. - The majority of the.poplllaco at the port'of debarkatjon were not aware "that a;Brilish General was expected, though.the arrival of a transport at the same time aroused: general enthusiasm, v ..'■'.■' /' The; Military.Governor and the Mayor greeted Sir John French at the '■■ jetty. ■■ '"- . " ,-.■•. < _- , Sir John French said.to the Governof:-»''We are very glad to be here, but • have you left us any place to fill P": , "•:.;; 'v -.-''..'' ■-.'• The Governor,replied: "You will make your place quickly enough." Since Monday a British Admiral has been'' superintending the landing of ; supplies. Many military motors are working in the district, which is placarded with notices in English reminding the drivers of the French rule of the road,' ■''Keep .to the right." : ' .■"• / >■'.',. The. town made a great display with bunting, every house being decorated. ':: •BEITISHENOAMPMpT ON THE HILLS.'., " Throughout Friday and Saturday the British troops marched through the streets to camps on the French hills, and were quickly distributed to various ; , points, the town being the victualling centre. The whole was done without excitement; everybody seemed to be doing an every-day job. The precise contents of every ship's hold was known, and directly the troops left the cargo was carried out to prearranged places and sheds, where the exact space was allocated. It-was manifest that the lessons learnt in South Africa had not been forgotten.- ' :; '..''.'■ : ■■, ' , ■ The big, broad-shouldered Britishers made a great impression on the people, who wore, however, in no mood for noisy demonstrations, remembering that.their relatives were already fighting. The "Tommies" quickly fraternised .. with the few French 6oldiers in the district. . , -. • ; There, were similar scenes at other ports. ... : -.';.; ';■ JMTHUSIASM, IN, PARIS. • The British Ambassador, Sir Francis Bertie, and the Minister of the Interior, M. Malvy,:and other officials gave a reception to Sir John French at the Gare du Nord, Paris; on Saturday. t Naval reservists from Brittany, who are assisting the gendarmerie, formed 'a guard of honour, and fhe Englisn colony, assembled at the station and sang ; the National Anthem. Sir John French was given an uproarious reception, 'there being cries of I'Angletorrel" ; Sir John French's motor-car was pelted with flowers as it ; passed through the streets. Later Sir JoTm visited President Poinoare. ■'-.'..'■ ' The Press Bureau states that Lord : Kitchener thanks the newspapers for not publishing any/.references to the nuivement of tho troops to, France; par- • ) ticularly as it was boing freely discussed and described in Continental newspapers. >' • '■'.'- Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Hai« commands, the First Corps of the Eipeditidiiarv Force, Major-Gencral William Pultene.y the Third: MaiorGeneral Sir X-rchibald Murray js the Chief of Sir John French's Staff. ' Lieiitenant-General Sir Horace Snjith-Doirion succeeds General Sir Jam«» Gnerson (who died suddenly) in command of tho Second Army-Corpt! •:

■ FINEST TROOPS .BRITAIN HAS EVER SENT OUT. (Reo. August: 19,'.5.5 p.m.)- , " . ~.c ■• . ■ • London, August 18. . The "Daily Mail's" correspondent describing the arrival of the British Expeditionary Force in France says that for two days the finest troops, that $jg■kncVhns over : wait across "-tho seas were seen marching through tho aairott streets of Boulogne, in solid columns of khata, thousands upon thousands, singing and whistling the Marseillaise and "It's a Long Way to lipperaryl — "Tinies" and Sydney ."Sun" service. > FRENCH PEOPLE FRANTIC WITH JQY. ' (Roc. August 19, 8.15 p.m.) ' London, August 18, evening, ' Letters received from the British troops state that the. French 'people-went frantic with joy. Tho women kissed and hugged the soldiers, screaming, Good, brave English," and offered the men presents. Many, of tho women- wept ' ' Other accounts state that the troops are in the highest spirits, and are singing marching and other songs while on their way to the front. \