"THANKS TO THE AMERICAN BOYS"

U.S. SOLDIERS BOARD TRANSPORT AT ANTWERP

Antwerp* (JFK+50) On January 25, 1923, "the transport St. Mihiel prepared to sail with the American forces which have been on duty at Coblenz."  

The Evening Star reports several women claiming to be wives of American soldiers on board the St. Mihiel "were found hiding at the pier."

The transport was loaded with soldiers bunking forward with wives quartered on the second after deck.  Most of the soldiers were from the U.S. 8th Infantry.

Upon arrival at the pier,  Albert Deveze**, Beligian Minister of War, said...

"Thanks to the American boys...the unjust aggression of which Belgium was the victim did not remain unpunished."

*Antwerp is the largest city in Belgium.  Located on the River Scheldt, its' port is one of the biggest in the world.  The city is the hub of the world's diamond trade.

**Albert Joseph Charles Deveze (1881-1959) was a Doctor in Law & lawyer who served as a member of the Belgian Parliament 1912-1939 & as Minister of Defense 1920-1923.  

SOURCE

"Belgians Praise Departing Yanks," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 25, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Albert Deveze

Photo by Karmakolle

2017