Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-08
NO RESPITE FROM WORK
FOR PERsH|NG AND STAFF
Crowds Each Morning Greet Appear
ance of American Commander
With Cheers.
OFFICE is PLAINLY FURNISHED
Announcement Definitely Made That
the United States Will Cooperate
With France on Land and With
England at Sea.
by C. f. BERTELLI.

PARIS. June 90 (by maiD.-General
Pershing and his staff have not passed
a moments respite since their arrival
in France a week ago. After two days
OF social functions. the entire per-
sonnet of the staff got down to hard
work in two houses fitted out for them
at 81 and 81 Rue de Constantine, with
in sight of the Museum of the In
valides, and around the corner from
the War Office
Every morning about 9 o'clock n
French military automobile. driven by
a poilu. hclmcted and in full uniform,
drives up before No. 81. The people
in the vicipty invariably rush up to
the machine. They shout 'Vive PERISH
ingc" and ''vivc entities Americans"
Tho general steps out and acknowl-
edges the hurrahs with military
salute. and then disappearS to his Of
flee.
Tho office" consists of nothing hut
one room, and an antichamber fur
nished more like an American kitchen
than a Louis Quatorze reception room.
II has several chairs of the garden
variety. two plain tables, unvarnishcd
and implanted, and made of pine, and
Il telephone. An orderly. constantly
evidence that the room is devoted to
the chief of staff of Americas army
soon to take the field in France.
DISTINGUISHED F7ENCHMEN
CALL TO PAY RESPECTS
There General Pershing receives such
distinguished visitors as Marshal Jonre,
General Foch, military adviser OF the
War Department.; General Peltier, de-
tailed to assist the American COM
mander. and the French authorities and
diGnitaricS OF various ranks who come
to pay their respects to the American
chieftain.
when some of the visitors COM
mented with wonderment on the ex-
tremeiy simple surroundings. General
Pershins reminded them that No. 81
was luxurious compared to what his
field headquarters will be when they
are finally decided upon.
The announcement has been definitely
madc that America will cooperate
with France on tho land and with
England at sea. While the troops will
be placed with the French units the
battle fleet of the United States will
be at disposition OF the British naval
authorities. To conform with the
French army regu1a lions. the Ameri-
can division. which, before the prc>>nt
war. numbered in excess OF $3.50 mcN
and officers. has been reduced to about
IL 900 men.
Each division will be complete in
Itself. without relying on outside aid
That is to say, in addition to the four
regiments of infantry, the three reei
ments OF artillery, one of engineers
and troop Of cavalry that 20 to
compose each division, the unit will
have It's own ambulance and signal
corps. transport and telephone service.
so that 1T may operate in complete in
dependence from auxiliary service.
TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARD
WITH EVERY DIVISION
1t Is planned to maintain this STAN
dard with every fighting division, which
viii thus present separate and dis
tinct unit in itself
The sanitary arrangements being
made for the soldiers surpass those
OF the French armies in the field. and
are even better than those made nv
the British 'Tommies," whose superb
hospital bases have caused consider
able comment among the French as
to the lack OF sanitation In their own
Service sanitaire."
preventive means. which were so
thoroughly driven into the enlisted
men during the campaign along the
Mexican border. have been expanded to
such an extent that the general staff
believes the American troops may go
through the war with the record for
minimum cases OF the usual army dis
cases.
Tho hygienic arrangements will ap-
ply whether the soldiers arc actually
In the field. undergoing training in
the camp. or resting in the field bases
- lCanfInund ON Ninfh Do ca =.