The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-16
Pershing Digs Into Accumula-
ton of Office Work in Paris.
Hurry to Clean Up Details Be.
fore Visiting Battle Line.
BOUND BY TIES OF LIBERTY
Two Great Republics Seal
Friendship in Common Cause.
Eloquent Words Bring Ready
Response From Pershing.

Paris, June 16.-An hour before the
time that the usual Paris office is even
swept out by the caretaker, Maj. Gen.
John J. Pershing was on the job to-
day.
The round of receptions. banquets
and social formalities over, the Amer
lean commander began bright and
early the real task that faces him as
head of the American eXpeditionary
forces. He had a typically American
breakfast at the Hotel Crillon ahead
of almost every one else in that hostel
ry and motored off at once to his Of
flee headquarters in the Rue Constan-
tin. There he jumped into an enor-
nous accumulation of correspondence.
The first rush out of the way, the
general began calling for his staff Of
ficers and after short, snappy confer
ences with them, vent back again to
his Stenographer. A vast amount of
detail work faces the general and his
staff and they attacked it today with
an energy and enthusiasm that made
the headquarters building almost hum
with activity.
Confers With Staff Members.
Late in the morning French army
officers and war office heads came
for conferences
One reason why the general and his
staff are anxious to clean up details as
soon as possible is that they want to
get to the front for inspection. Gen
eral Pershing laid down the rule that
this trip should not be taken until all
the office work was out of the way.
At the rate the Americans We're hust-
| ling today, a few days more will see
them at the front, getting acquainted
and inspecting the ground that they
may later make famous in American
history.
General Pershing lives in an atmos-
phere of battle. His room in the
Hotel Crillon, where he receives Wis
itors, is decorated with pictures of
famous battles and the windows them
selves overlook the historic Place De
La Concorde.
Rue Constantin-Pershi office
! is a simple one of two stories with a
gable roof and windows trinity fitted
with awnings, its general architecture
being reminiscent of American army
barrack quarters A big American
flag hangs over the door.
/ Pershing's two-day ceremonial pro-
gram concluded with an impressive
scene at the tomb of Lafayette, where
he placed a wreath on the sarcophagus
the simple stone slab, marking the
resting place Of Americas friend.
Pershing stood, head barred, in the
blazing sun as the Marquis de Cham
brun in a few eloquent words spoke
of the inseparable link between Amer
| lea and France forged by Lafayette
Then, moved with emotion he respond
ed briefly, almost haltingly-the buzz
of an aeroplane engine far overhead
almost drowning his low voiced words
Address by Lafayette's Descendant.
The Marquis de Chambrun, the de-
scendant of the Marquis de Lafayette.
was chosen to return formal thanks
today when General Pershing laid a
wreath on the grave of the famous
revolutionary general in the Plcpus
cemetery. The Marquis de Chambrun
said:
There is no place so appropriate
as this tomb to salute the adhension
to our cause of the United states In
your person. General, 1 bow before
the sword which America casts into
the scale for liberty, civilization and
humanity. We may fairly say that
the bonds uniting our two countries
are in no way the result of diplomacy.
They are united by the principles OF
liberty, justice and independence,
principles which hitherto have formed
the strength of our two democracies
and they certainly will bring about
victory.
I'VE know that our two great coun-
tries are invinclble. They already
have proved it and it rejoices us to
think that a new victory is about to
consecrate these same principles
General, in placing these flowers or
this tomb you have touched the hearts
of all Frenchmen as you have touched
the heart of Lafayette's great-grand-
son.
Seals Friendship Closer.
General Pershing replied:
TT is great pleasure for all us
Americans to have had this opportun-
ity of visiting the grave of man who
did so much for America. We are
. happy thus to pay our tribute anG
seal more closely the bond which ha.
already bound QUE two nations
General Pershing will dine tomor-
raj n at yf
: headquarters and probably will attend
"A performance at the Opera Comiqut
in the evening.