Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-08-15
CAMPS IN FRANCE
PLEASE PERsH|Ne.
Pays Unexpected Visit TO the
Training Grounds.
WORK NOW WELL STARTED

WORK NOW WELL STARTED
Commander Questions Cooks About
tbs Food supply. and All Ar We'll
sstisfied-Many Of the Men See the
General For the First Tims-Potasess
A-pisnty.
General Pershing gare 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.
Ii was not a 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 II 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 be found the forces just as
he desired-enGaged In their daily rou-
tine work and drill
At the end OF the first days inspec-
tion General rershing said: Our prin-
eipal concern just now OF course Is to
perfect the army organization. This
is big task. but 1t 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 Tue progress we
have made thus for with the assist
| ance of the French Is source OF great
| satisfaction to me. Eillcts and train
| Ing ground for men are as well located
as could he expected at this time OF the
| year when space is limited by crops in
| the fields,
AFTER these are removed we win
have plenty of space for lodging and
| training the divisions that are To come,
Training Is progressing very Wen with
| the assistance OF the French
! General Pershlng 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
| tion OF garbage Stops. which be found
| were all going 10 French farmers. who
were delighted TO have this matter to
feed their PIGS. taking advantage OF
Fevery 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 kitchen the
American commander Intercepted the
| cooks closely.
"Do you get enough TO eat and TO
feed the mem he asked one veteran
cook who has been In the regular army
for number of years.
Yes. sir" replied the cook, standing
at respectful attention.
do you get any vegetabiesf" asked
General Pershing.
''No. SIR replied the cook
Potatoes In Plenty.
Don't you get any potatoes p 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 beansy'
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 10 make
was that the company's share OF can
ned salmon had not been forthcoming
regularly
What do you get as a substitutey'
asked the general.
We'll. Of course. sir. We get bacon"
replied the cook. somewhat subdued.
ANY other complainty" the COM
mander inquired
There was none. and again the gen.
eral passed ON. completely satisfied
with prevailing conditions.
Many troopers saw General Pershing
for the first time in their lives. His
visit was so unexpected at certain
points OF the far flung training area
that the soldiers speculated at first
whether he was Pershing. Several
1 times they referred the dispute m tho