The Wahpeton times., 1917-09-20
FIGHTING jack" PERSH|NG'S EYE
keen FOR THE TINIEsT OF DETAILS
Inspection Of American Training Camp France Is Described by
Newspaper Correspondent Officers and Men Made to
Realize That War Is Serious Busness-French
Soldiers Fond Of Americans.

farls.-"Fighting Jack" Pershing
paid his first flying visit to the Ameri.
can training camp in France, and left
behind him trail of burning ears elec.
trified men and spirit of grim, mill.
tary doggedness that brought the new
est recruit to realization that war.
even in the training, may be all Cen
eral Sherman said it was, and then
some.
The soldiers knew nothing about It,
but the American commander was
expected to arrive on Monday. He
didn't. The camp went on with its
routine life. Bright and early Tues
day morning the general drove into
the first camp en- route from Paris,
and things began to hum.
Cavalry were drilling in huge
field off to the left. while on the right
group of infantry was practicing
with the bayonet, bombing squad
was throwing grenades and engineers
were snoring up practice trench.
Cavalry Sight Pershins.
The cavalry commander was the
first to spot the generals erect form.
"Tention!" he sang out.
The whole squad drew up short.
There was clatter of spurs and steel
as the company wheeled into fOrma-
ton before the commander in chief.
"Salute!" bawled the captain.
A hundred sabers flashed in the sun.
"GOod work." nodded the general
briefly, and he strobe over to the in
fantry.
Some Of the men were so busily en-
gagged In trying to perforate stuffed
sawdust bags representing suppositi.
tious Germans they failed to note the
approach Of the general.
At the second cry Of "'tentlon''
they stopped and stiffened up. guns
Gathering to their sides eyes rigidly
fixed front-all except one man, who
followed the generals movements as
he made a rapid inspection Of their
arms.
The general stopped before him.
'"The first principle of soldier is to
learn to stand at attention." said he
crisply. Sergeant. have this man
stand at attention for five minutes r.
Fall QUIT" ordered the sergeant.
The Sammy" stepped back out of
the ranks.
TentiOn!" snapped the sergeant.
The soldier fixed his eyes grfmly
in front Of him and never moved them.
"Fall back!" exploded the sergeant
at the end Of the five minutes, and the
incident was closed.
General Pershing talked earnestly
for about ten minutes with their regi-
mental commander. commencing the
men for some Of their work. pointing
out their faults. Then he passed on
out to the bombers and sappers.
The bombers went through the
third degree with flying colors. Cen
eral Pershing making only one COM
ment. when he suggested that one Of
their number put little more force
behind his throw and not try spitball
work with a hand grenade.
Then the train of motor cars made
of to the practice fields in the direction
OF the nearest village where troops
were billeted. some of them off duty
and lounging around.
The chief commanders car pulled
up before combination stable. hay
loft and dwelling place that the
French peasants had shared indiscrim-
lnately with their feathered and barn.
yard animals.
Pershing took one glance at the in
scription on the outside of it-"Ser-
geant X, Sergeant C., 62 men,"
'Too many for billet of this size.
Who's the captain here?"
Finds overerowding.
His name was given. :, ..~..
TEL him to change these men to
another billet where they won't be so
crowded" was the order.
Billet after billet was investigated
IN similar manner, some of them
meeting with the generals approval.
Wnen they didn't he said SO in unmis.