Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-11-02
General Pershing Is Quick on
Trigger; Sibert a Tire
less Worker.
EACH HAS Big MANS JOB
Commander In Chief Forces Things
Along at Top Speed, While sibert
Watches Details and Insists
on Accuracy.

Field Headquarters, American Ex-
pedltiOnary Forces, France.-Two men,
both efficient, both trained In the same
school, both I'm the same line Of serv-
Ice, probably never offered stronger
contrast than Gen. John J.. P%ershing,
commander Of the expedition, and Maj.
Gen. William l.. Sibert, division com
mander. Working as a team, whip
ping our troops into shape for the
gruellng struggle awaiting them, 1t
would be hard to find a better COM
binatlon. Each has a herolc-sized mans
Job and leading a great army in these
days offers many man-sized jobs,
writes Junlus b. Wood in the Chicago
News.
Pershing is Of the quick-on-the-trlg-
ger style.
Sibert will be sure that the powder
Is dry.
Pershing is Of the dashing type,
nervous, always on the go, like a sur
charged battery, stirring everybody he
comes I'm contact with, forcing them
along ut top speed. He tells what he
wants. It is up to the staff he has
picked to see that It is carried out.
He'll be sure to know and they'll know
II II isn't. He gives n sharp glance Mt
a company at attention, picks out a
man whose eyes are wandering. tells
the company commander what is
wrong-a few crisp, pointed words
which are not forgotten-and the COM
mander knows how to bring the 9TH
Frs up to standard. He also realizes
that he had better. Pershing fought
Moros, administered provinces when an
ron hand was necessary, rides day
and night In the field and I'm the Office
holds his conferences through the day
and reads reports most of the night.
Sibert a Methodieal Worker.
Sibert is deliberate, m%ethodical, a
hreless worker, watching every detail,
,nsistent that reports Of his under off,
eers be accurate, comprehensive, COW
erlng every angle, Of the type that is
persistent and sure. His voice is sell
dom raised above its quiet, even tone.
He walks through the village street
from his headquarters to his mess each
day at the same gait and the same
hour. 1t may be q mOmentOus incl
dent that will delay him a minute, or
prevent him from being back at his
desk at the minute he calculated on.
When he inspects n company he stops
In front of each man His comments
to the commanding officer are fatherly
In tone. Sibert helped build the Pan
anna canal. He is an engineer with n
training for accuracy that figures
down to t~hOusandths of inches.
Once when General Pershlng was
making his flying trip of inspection on
his first visit to the American army
zone, n smile twitched the corners of
his stern lips. A sergeant. one Of the
old-time "non-coms" who knew army
regulations like his HOyle, vas drilling
a platoon, mostly gawklng, raw re-
cruits. Out of the corner of his eye
he saw the general and a following of
officers strldlng across the field in his
direction.
"AttentiOn ~ he shouted in stem
torlan tones and the men made their
best efforts to assume n military poise,
"Brace up, yer standln' like a lot O
old wlmmen," growled the sergeant in
n tone meant only for his men. The
general, half a dozen strides ahead OF
the rest of the party, caught 1t. His
iron gray mustnche could not cover
the smile. He did not criticize that
company. Instead he veered Off tC