Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-03
"A erican Commander
Speeds Through French
Towns, Talks to Cooks,
Sees Men at Work, In
Strenuous Day.
FINDS SOLDIERS
WELL SATISFIED

American Training Camp in France,
Wednesday, Aug. General Pershing
gave the American expeditionary force
an example of the strenuous life by
sweeping through nearly dozen VII
lages where United States soldiers are
living in France and visiting nearly all
training centers which have been
established from Americas first great
contribution to the war for democracy.
It was not a cursory inspection. He
went into minute details all along the
line, questioned private soldiers. com
pany cooks and various other ranks as
to how things were going and what If
ANYTHING could be done to improve the
situation.
FINDS MEN At WORK.
General Pershing was expected
Monday but delayed leaving Paris un.
I'll late yesterday. He spent the night
at a quaint little French village and
reached the American area early to-
day. His visit was entirely informal
and he found the forces Just as he de-
sired, engaged in their daily routine
work and drill
The general is also inspecting var1-
Gus places suggested for his field head
quarters for he expects before very
long to leave Paris for the troops.
He will return to Paris late tomor-
row.
COMMANDER IS PLEASED. 1
a.asal AZ ss.r end Of the first days sinspcc-
tion General Pefshing said:
"Our principal concern Just now OF
course Is to perfect the army organi-
xation. This is big task, but 1t Is
moving along smoothly and In most
satisfactory manner.
1.-THE work at certain ports OF disem-
barkation Is we'll started. Railroad ma
terial is coming over as rapidly as can
be arranged. The progress we have
made thus far with the assistance OF
the French is source OF great salts
faction to me. Billets and training
ground for men are as well located as
could be expected at this time OF the
year. when space is limited by crops In
the field
after these are moved we will have
plenty Of space for lodging and train.
ing the divisions that are to come.
Some of the places where men are
now sleeping are not all that could be
desired but this soon will be remedied
by the construction Of portable bar
racks. Training Is progressing very
well with the assistance OF the
French"
General Pershing was untiring In his
inspection of the training area. He IN
ouired into every phase OF the mems
daily life the character and the guam
tity of their food even to the dfsposi-
tion of garbage which he found was go
ing to French farmers, who were de-
lighted to receive it for stock food
sAMMiES OWN LAUNDRYMEN.
General Pershing found the Ameri-
ean soldiers and the French villagers
living together In greatest amity. He
INQUIRED about the washing for soldiers
and found that nearly all wash their
own clothes in the village wash houses
erected along running streams, the vii
layers washing on one bank and the
soldiers on the other.
At several company Kitchens the
commander interogated the cooks
closely.
"Do you get enough to eat and TO
feed the men?" he asked one veteran
cook who has been In the regular ar.
for a number Of years.
eS, SIT, TcPltu lAS CSOA St0uulu6 3
1t respectful attention.
General Pershing, smiled and moved
away, satisfied that that particular
company was doing very we'll in war
time and in the war zone.
CAMPS FARE is GOOD.
At another company kitchen the
cook said the only complaint he had
to make was that the company's share
of canned salmon had not been forth.
coming regularly.
What do you get as a substtute?'
\sked the general.
\ well, of course. sir. we get bacon,
s,eplied the cook somewhat subdued.
"Any other complaint" the comman
der inquired.
There was none. and again the gen
eral passed on, completely satisfied
with prevailing conditions.
Many troopers saw General Pershine
for the first time in their lives. His
visit was so unexpected at certain
points OF the far-flung training ares
that the soldiers speculated at first
whether he was Pershing. Several
times they referred the dispute to
their captains.