The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-09-20
FIGHTING JACK" PERSHING'S EYE
. KEEN FOR THE TINIEST or DETAILS
inspection Of American Training Camp in France Described by
Newspaper Correspondent Officers and Men Made to
Realize That War Is Serious BusineSS-French
Soldiers Fond OF Americans.

Paris.-"Fightlng Jack" Pershlng
paid his first flying visit to the Amerl-
can training camp in France, and left
behind him trail Of burning ears cleo
trifed men and a spirit of grim, mill
tary doggedness that brought the new
est recruit TO a realization that war,
even in the training may be all Cen
eral Sherman said 1t was, and then
some.
The soldiers knew nothing about II,
but the American commander was
expected to arrive on Monday. He
didn't. The camp went on with It's
routine life. Bright and early Tues
day morning the general drove into
the first camp en- route from Paris,
and things began to hum.
Cavalry were drilling in a huge
field of to the left, While on the right
a group Of infantry was practicing
with the bayonet, a bombing squad
was throwing grenndes and engineers
were snoring up a practice trench.
Cavalry Sight Pershng,
The cavalry commander was the
first to spot the generals erect form.
"'Tention :" he sang out.
The whole SOUND drew up short.
There was a clatter Of spurs and steel
ae the company wheeled into forma-
tom before the commander In chief
"Salutew bawled the captain.
s hundred sabers flashed in the sun
Good work" nodded the general
br fly. and he strobe over to the in
fantry.
Some Of the men were so buslly en-
gagged in trying 10 perforate stuffed
sawdust bags representing suppositl-
tious Germans they failed to note the
approach OF the general
At the second cry Of 'tentlon"
they stopped and stlrened up, guns
gathering TO their sides eyes rigidly
fixed front-all except one man, who
followed the generals movements as
he made a rapid inspection Of their
arms.
The general stopped before him.
8 The first principle of soldier Is to
learn to stand at attention" said he
crlspIy Sergeant, have this man
stand Mt attention for five minutes ~
Fall out" ordered the sergeant.
The Sammy" stepped back out Of
the ranks
Tention" snapped the sergeant.
The soldier fixed his eyes grmly
in front of him and never moved them.
Fall back 90 exploded the sergeant
at the end Of the five minutes. and the
incident was closed.
General Pershing talked earnestly
for about ten minutes with their rpgi-
mental commander commanding the
men for some Of their work, pointing
ont their faults. Then he passed ON
out to the bombers and sappers
The bombcrs went through the
third degree with flying colors. Gen
eral pcrshing making only one com
mcnt, when hc suggested that one Of
their number put little more force
brhud his throw and not try spltball
work with "a hand grenade.
Then the train OF motor cars made
oil 10 the practice fields In the direction
Of tho nearest village where troops
we're bileted some Of them off DUTY
Bud ounrlng around
m chief commanders car pulled
uG before o combination stable, hay
loft and dwelling place that III,
French peasants had shared indlscrim
mately with their fcathcred and barn
yard animals.
Persbiug took one glance AT the In
scripiun on the outside Of it-"Ser
gcant Is Sergeant c., 62 men
Too many for % billet of this size
Who's thr captain hereY
Finds oVererowdinu.
His name was given.
Tell him 90 change these men /,
anots,r billet whore they won't be \,
crowded was the order
Billet after billet was investigated
in similar manner, some Of then
meeting with the generals approval
When they didn't he said so 10 unmis
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