Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-08-22
CAMPS j nj 5 !. IN FRANCE
PLEASE PERSA|Nc
Pays Unexpected |ll|l'tl 4. Visit ! it. to the
Training: Grounds.

Training: Grounds.
WORK NOW WELL STARTED
Commander Questions Cooks About
the Food Supply, and All Are Well
satisfsd-Many Of the Men See the
General For the First Tims-Potatoss
A.pIsnty.
General Pershing gave the American
expeditionary force an example of the
strenuous life by sweeping through
nearly a 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.
j It 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
uat10n.
General Pershing spent the night at
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.
At the end 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 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 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 mtiring 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 disposi-
ton Of garbage slops, 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, men p he asked one veteran
cook who has been in the regular army
for number Of years.
Eyes, SIR" replied the cook, standing
at respectful attention.
do you get any vegetables? 2" asked
General Pershing.
mo. SIR replied the cook.
Potatoes In Plenty.
Don't you get any potatoes?' asked
General Pershing, with some surprise.
'Oh, yes, sir" was the prompt reply.
"And onions and tomatoes?" ques-
toned the general further.
"Yes, SIR"
"And beans?'
Eyes, 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. =
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, and again the gen.
eral passed on, completely satisfied
with prevailing conditions.
Many troopers saw General Pershine
for the first time in their lives. His
i visit was so unexpected at certain
points Of the far flung training area
that the soldiers speculated at first
whether he was Pershing. Several
times they referred the dispute to the
correspondents accompanying the Off.
Ger.
II knew it was Pershing all the
time," boasted one old trooper, ''be
cause / saw his picture in the paper,
and he looks just like it."
i General Pershing gave orders looking
to a little smarter setup Of the men in
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