The Washington times., 1917-12-20

side As he stood there beside the steam
ing dixies filled with stew.
UnluclIy recruit
That man hasn't learned the first
principal Of soldering" snapped General
Pershing. pointing to the dazed young
ster. Look at him-staring around
when he ought to be standing at atten-
ton Sergeant, take him outside. show
him the proper position and make an
example OF him. Make him stand at at
tention in the roadway for i've minutes.
Many Questioss.
The sergeant obeyed! Then the
general inspected the kitchen.
where do you dump your refuse:
' Is It covered upf Do you get enough
vegetables? What meat did you have
yesterday-the day before-the day
before that? He shot at the sergeant
so quickly, so sharply that the nom
CONS answers sounded like stutter-
ing.
For the rest OF the day II was just
like that. The whirlw1nd swept
through fifteen towns-across a dozen
training fields.
Everyone felt relieved when Per-
shlng left
But the results were pronounced
the next day. When a Sammy came
to attention he came to attention
right. Men sprang to their feet with
the snap OF a steel spring when an
officer passed them in the street.
Garbage tubs that hadn't been COW
cred were covered the next day, and
out on the training field they were
putting more snap, more ferocity into
the bayonet work. Efficiency and
discipline had taken a sudden spring
| upward.
His office is in the center of a big
'uilding with the other departmental
ffices ranging for a block In two d.
ections. Room 81 is where the gen.
raj works. There he sits at his desk.
hard, straight-back office chair,
1ush-buttons and telephone within
rms reach, directing, consulting, In
using his departments heads with
he same indomitable, batterinK-ram
'pirit that brought him to the head
4 Americas greatest army, now In
he making.
He Is strict, severe. Yet, they tell
4 dough-boy who rolled into camp
Town In Mexico. famished for food
-fter thirty-six hours on the road
'ithout bite. He walked INTO a tent,
Saluted and asked Ihe officer for
'omething to eat. The officer heard
ne mans story and himself went to
Ne cook shack and ordered the cook
o prepare dinner for the doughboy.
Gains sOIdIer.' Respect
DO you know who that was7" the
ook asked, as he showed q steak at
he hungry lad.
Nope" between mouthfuls of hash.
That was General Pershlng."
That Sammy, still in the army
wears General Pershing is the great.
Il soldier ever.
Perhaps because OF II perhaps in
pite OF his soldierly conduct in pub
ic. General Pershing is different. II
depended on his speeches he
ouldn't be elected dog catcher Of a
ountry village. He is a soldier, not
orator-yet In his position abroad
ie has frequently come through sit
tations requiring the exercise OF high
uaIitles OF statemanships and diplo-
Iacy.
AT mess "shop-talk" Is taboo. Art.
literature, sports-anything but the
rushing, destroying business of war
any OF its phases may occupy the
'eal-hour. The mess consists OF
eneral Pershing. another general,
40 colonies and a captain.
When the days work is done-when
he department heads have reported
With their recommendations, their
,ew ideas, their progress or reverses,
there Is no matter OF unusual pres
ure' the general goes riding. Per-
APPS he gets into his machine and
OILS TO lonely wooded spot with a
nAJor who has his confidence. II so,
,hey dismount and walk through the
Voods' miles from the worries OF the
rmy. The general may walk five
mics at brisk pace, meeting the
sutomooile again at the other side
tne Forest or across a valley.
He keeps physically fit-a strong
- man perhaps than most OF the
vigorous younger officers at head
quarters. A big job and a heavy
load General Pershing's. But those
loads.