Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-25

{,
suggesting perfection and sureness
Of organization. There was no con
fusion. and this tremendous machin-
cry Of warfare was running with the
precision and smoothness OF the deli
cate works OF watch.
''POiIus" Taken orr Guard
General Antoine and Minister Pain
leye now turned off to the living
quarters. The big barracks stretched
for half a mile ahead substantial
temporary onestory structures Of cor
rngatcd iron with an inner double
sheathins Of heavy paper felt There
was blast of bugles and u ruffle Of
drums, saluting the commanding gem
eraf ana the minister And as the
sharp notes sounded, hundreds of
French soldiers-the poiluswho
were camped along the route, chat
ting in groups, sitting at rough
benches, and doing their hundreds of
little camp duties, sprang TO attention
and stood there like statues as the
general passed by. Those with guns
brought the piece sharply TO present
arms. while most of the poilus. taken
unawares in their rough and-ready
garb, were without arms and saluted
with the right hand at the cap.
1t was striking scene, these poilus
standing rigid, not in regular array,
but scattered and massed for half
mile along a dusty battle route, some
on the road. others on the rising
slopes, with their commanding officer
passing among them. The general
paused as we neared one group of
twenty grimey soldiers ranged beside
a field kitchen, the ovens smoking and
giving off an 0rdor of soldier ratlons.
Don't Like Rice.
Are the men content with the |
food ~ asked the general hating and |
addressing by name one of the poilus |
yes, my General answered the
poilu, his face beamlng.
And the rice, do the men like II -"
queried the general
no, my General they will not eat
it,
The poilu was very definite in con-
demning the rice portion of the ra-
ton and had no hesitation In express
ing this disapproyal to the general.
General Antoine asked many other
questions as to the food, and was an
swered In the same frank and smiling
way
Democracy of Army.
This was a typical encounter be-
tween the commanding general of an
army corps and a plain French poilu,
and 1t showed the inherent democracy
Of the French army, the real CANA p,
radrie between officers and men.
Here was a corps commander address
ing a private soldierly familiarly by /,
name, and knowing the name of this
man In forty thousand encountered
by hazard, for they say General An
tome knows every man by name in his
corps
Entering the barracks. the poilus
we're ranged at attention alongside
heir long lines Of hunks. Everything
vas spic and span; floors clean, bed
'lothes piled neatly, mattresses sun
hing in the windows. There was the
anne orderly arrangement in the
iuge eating quarter, kitchens and
elsewhere. Outside the barracks, on
he sloping terrace, the poilus had
planted artistic flower beds, with
luge letters in flowers spelling Joffre, ]
'astelnau, Antoine and the other COM ie
handlers. huge stock of shells a
ose among these flowers, and the Y
Ioius had stood some of these mon a
ter shells on end with bunch Of
lowers and a French flag in the nose
t the projectiles.
Work of Slightly Wounded.
General Antoine took a personal in I
crest in the depot d'eclopes" as I
is called--an extensive organization I
I'm by slightly wounded men. Gen
raj Antoine originated the idea and ,
has spread all through the army, .
hese depots back of the front doing :.
cores of helpful little duties for the / (
len on the firing line. Here there IL
'as an immense laundry turning out H
wash of 10 000 pieces.
ut helps the man in the trench to II
ave a clean shirt" said General An
Dine, as showed the stocks of flan-
el shirts about to be returned to the
len In front.
There were kitchen gardens for
"esh vegetables FORCES for mending III
'ench tools, armories for cleaning III
uns a candle factory, and innumera-
le other activities, all run by soldiers
no had lost finger or the edge of
n ear, or had some other slight II
ound temporarily ncapacitating \
lem. III
CaToOnist's Menu Card. III
AZ night the party became General III
ntoine's guests at the extensive pri- =
lte residence, requistioned for army N
imposes, alongside Headquarters. IT 2
as evidently the home of well-con- y
toned family. with spacious corri- z
lrs lined with sculpture and paint =
gs. The dinner was cooked and (
rived by soldiers, and even the r.
enu-card was a work of art done by Il
noted French cartoonist now serv- II
Z as n soldier in the ranks. Il
The American expedition to Mexico III
me M for discussion as the party Ill
ere leaving, and General Antoine III
i'd
Cavalry Not Obsolete. IN
The experience of your army III
ows that cavalry is still an essential III
lrt of army organization. With our III
nnch warfare the idea got about that III
ounted troops Were thing of the III
st. But they will always be indis- II
nsable for quick movements where III
IN and dash are needed, and partic- II
arly in a flat country. No, the Rus II
ms in Mesopotamia and the Ameri- n
MS in Mexico are demonstrating that =;
valry is one of the most effective u
'apons of offense." "
- u