The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-08-15
CAMPS IN FRANCE
PLEASE PERSH|NC
Pays Unexpected Visit TO the
Training Grounds.
WORK NOW WELL STARTED

| Commander Questions Cooks About
the Food Supply, and All Are Well
Satisfied-Many Of the Men See the
General For the First Time-Potatoes
A-p!enty.
General Pershing gave the A;nrricaD
expeditionary force an example OF the
strenuous life by sweeping through
nearly dozen villages where United
States soldiers are living In France
and visiting nearly all training centers
which have been established from
Americas first great contribution for
| the war for democracy.
1t was not cursory inspection that
the general made. He went into minute
details all along the line, questioned
private soldiers. company cooks and
various other ranks as to how things
were going with them and what If any
thing could be done to improve the sit
uatiOn.
General Pershing spent the night at
a quaint little French village and reach
| ed the American army area early next
| morning. His visit was entirely infOr-
/ NAL. and he found the forces just as
! he desired-engaged in their daily rou-
/ tine work and drill.
1t the erd of the first days inspec-
| ton General Pershing said: our prin-
/ cipal concern just now of course is to
/ perfect the army organization. This
| is a big task. but it is moving along
smoothly and in a most satisfactory
manner.
Work Well Started.
"The work at certain ports of disem-
| barkation is well started Railroad
material is coming over as rapidly
as can be arranged. The progress We
have made thus for with the assist
ance of the French is q source of great
satisfaction to me. Billets and train
ing 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 fields.
"After these are removed we will
have plenty of space for lodging and
training the divisions that are to come.
Training is progressing very well with
the assistance of the French"
General Pershing was untiring In his
inspection of the training area. He in
quired into every phase of the mems
daily life. the character and the guam
tity of their food. even to the DISPOSE
ton of garbage Stops. which he found
were all going to French farmers. who
were delighted to have this matter to
feed their pigs. taking advantage of
every sort of refuse containing fat
General Pershing found the American
soldiers and the French villagers living
together in the greatest amity. He in
quired about the washing for soldiers
and found that they nearly all washed
their own clothes in the village wash
houses erected along running streams.
the villagers washing on one bank and
| the soldiers on the other.
At several company kitchens the
American commander Intercepted the
cooks closely.
| DO you get enough to eat and to
| feed the mcn?" he asked one veteran
cook who has been in the regular army
for number of years.
"ies. sir replied the cook. standing
| at respectful attention.
"Do you get any vegetables?' asked
General Pershing.
mo, sir, replied the cook.
Potatoes IN Plenty.
Don't yen get any pOtatoes?" asked
General Pershng. with some surprise.
"Oh. yes. sir" was the prompt reply.
And onions and tomatoesf" ques-
toned the general further.
Yes. sir
And beans?'
Yes. sir"
Then what do you want
Nothing. sir"
General pershing smiled and moved
away satisfied that that particular
company WAS doing very well In war
time and in the war zone.
At another company kitchen the cook
said the only complaint he had to make
was that the company's share Of can.
ned salmon had not been forthcoming
regularly.
What do you get as a substitr.sf''
asked the general.
well, OF course, sir. We get bacon
replied the cook. somewhat subdued.
"Any other complaint" the com
mander inquired.
There was none. ana again the gen
eral passed on. completely satisfied