The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-07

I HANflO az dttHfltibI loi hNc bh'hdNV"'
Fall OUT" ordered the sergeant,
The Sammy stepped back out OF
the ranks
""Tention," snapped the sergeant
The soldier fixed his eyes grfn1ly
in front or him and v moved
them,
Fall hackt" exploded the sergeant
at the end OF the Ave minutes, and
the Incident was closed.
Tcxan With "A Pick.
General Pershing talked earnestly
for about ten minutes with the regi-
mental commander. commencing the
men for some OF their work. pointing
out their faults. Then he passed on
10 the bornbers and sappers. A husky
Texan. with his rack turned toward
the commander in chief. was still
swinging his pick.
He stopped with II poised In mid
air at the again repeated. "Tentioni"
ard stood like a statue OF labor per-
sonifed.
The general regarded him fxediy
over his face,
Give him the at ease order" ne
commanded.
The sapper drop.ed his pick at his
side with a sigh OF relief. but at the
order, Resume work" started. In
viciously attacking the srongy earth.
The bombers went through the
third degree with flying colors. Cen
epal pershing making only one COM
utent, when he suggested that one OF
their number put a little more force
behind his throw and not try spit
ball work with a hand grenada.
Then the train of motor cars made
off the practice fields In the direction
OF the nearest village where troops
! were biilefed. some, Of them off duty
and loung!ng around.
The chief com naander's car pulled
up before g combination stable hav-
loft and dwelling place that the
French peasants had shared tndis-
harnyard animals.
pershinE took one glance ~ the
Inscription on the outside OF tt
Sergeant k. Sergeant c.. So
men"
TOO many for a billet of this size.
Who's the captain here"
Finds Overcrpwding.
His name was given.
TELL him to change these men TO
another billet where they won't be SO
crowded" was the order.
Then the chieftain stepped inside
Row on row of army cots greeted
him seate flied with equipment.
others with men seated on their sid as
engaged In mendiug clothes. cleaning
equipment or taking a quiet smoke.
At the sight OF the 1--WE stars on his
shoulder strap every man leaned to
his feet. hastily dropping pipes. need
les and equipment onto their cots or
the ground.
The general counted the cots,
Only forty-two here" he said
sstVbaya'ra fta A|f,,rz @s
Upstairs. sir" replied the sergeant,
indicating a ladder that led up into
what had been h~ay-loft.
The general climbed up the ladder
and stuck his head into the loft.
Not everrnueh air or light here.
commented he. Change these men as
soon "a o can"
Then he passed on to the next
billet.
Dog Snaps at Pershing.
A dog. barking victousty, ran out
of the stable and made a snap al the
generals leg. The commander never
budged but strobe or into the stable
while an orderly chased the belliger-
ent canine away.
Billet after billet was investigated
In similar manner, some OF them
meeting with the generals approval.
When they didn't he said so In unmis-
taxable language, direct from the
shoulder. that sometimes fairly
crisped and cracked.
His Xxi point OF Investigation was
the companv's field kitchen. A cook,
stripped to the undershfrt, was husily
engaged In stirring some apple fritz
ters In a huge pot of boiling grease.
He Strengthened IN and dropped his
ladle at the unexpected apparition.
Are o the cook here?" demand
ed the general.
Yes. STR"
Are Won a regular cook"
Yes, sir"
DO o get plenty to eat"
yes, sir"
What do you get ?"
The cool enumerated: Flour, beans.
bacon. rice. coffee. allowance of meat.
canned salmon, etc.
Full ratfons of everything?" per-
sisted the general.
Bacon IL Bacon.
The cook hesitated. Yes, SIR, err
that fs. except We haven't had our
SALMON. sir"
WHY not7" shot hack the general.
ut wasn't issued 10 us. sir. but We
got an extra ration of bacon instead >
Well, did you make a report of
The cook said he had, Then. gain
ing a little confidence ha .addAd- they
didn't Get quite as much meat as they
might like.
You ret your fun rations. don't
y0u 2" i~nterroKated the general.