On June 14, 1917, the first expedition of American troops left the United States for France and the Fifth Regiment of Marines embarked on the naval transports _Henderson_ and _Hancock_, and the auxiliary cruiser _De Kalb_ (former _Prinz Eitel Friedrich_), formed approximately one-fifth of it. The fourth group, including the _Hancock_, did not sail until June 17, 1917. The orders received by the convoy commander on the day prior to sailing read in part: “A military expedition is to be embarked on the above-named transports, augmented by a regiment of Marines embarked in naval vessels, for transportation to a destination already communicated.” The _De Kalb_ was in group 1, the _Henderson_ in group 2, and the _Hancock_ in group 4; all were part of the escort and not the convoy. Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, the convoy commander, flying his flag on the _Seattle_, personally commanded the first group, while Maj. Gen. W. L. Sibert in the _Tenedores_, was the senior Army officer embarked. The passage of the four groups across the Atlantic was successfully accomplished without a single disaster, or the loss of a life due to enemy causes. At 10.15 p. m., June 22, 1917, the first group, including the _De Kalb_, was attacked by enemy submarines. The wake of a submarine was sighted crossing 50 yards ahead of the _Seattle’s_ bow from starboard to port. A few seconds later the _De Kalb_ and _Havana_ sighted torpedoes and opened fire. Two torpedoes passed close to the Havana, and one passed ahead and one astern of the _De Kalb_. The second group encountered two submarines, the first at 11.50 a. m., June 26, 1918, about 100 miles off the French coast and the second two hours later. The _De Kalb_ arrived at St. Nazaire, France, on June 26, 1917, the _Henderson_ on June 27, 1917, and the _Hancock_ on July 2, 1917. On June 27, 1917, the commanding officer of the Fifth Regiment reported to the commanding general, First Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and from that date the Fifth Regiment was considered as being detached for service with the Army by direction of the President. Five hundred negro stevedores had been brought from the United States by the Army to discharge ships, but they were found inadequate for the large number of ships concerned. The Marines relieved the situation somewhat by turning to and discharging their own vessels. On June 27, 1917, the First Battalion, less the Fifteenth Company which joined the battalion the following day, disembarked from the _De Kalb_ and occupied quarters ashore. On this date Lieut. Col. Logan Feland joined the Fifth Regiment. On June 28, 1917, the Second and Third Battalions went ashore from the _Henderson_ for a practice march, and the following day the First Battalion erected tents for the regiment on a camp site a short distance outside of St. Nazaire. By 8 p. m., July 3, 1917, the entire Fifth Regiment was ashore under canvas.