Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-02
BY JUNIUS B. WOOD.
Especial Cablegrnm to The Star and
Chicago Daily News.b

chicago Daily NevSb
tCopyrisht. 1917, by the Chicago Daily News
Company
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, August appropriations
ere being rushed to. care for force
many times the size of the American
expedition now in France. All the
towns adjacent to the immense train
Ing area are being canvaSsed for billets
and buildings suitable for housing SOL
dters through the winter are being
listed. Before the snow flies the United
States can have here force of size
surprising to those enemies who have
belittled Americas military proves.
Soon the army quarters will stretch
:hcross many miles of territory. The
plans are being laid on broad compre-
Intensive lines contemplating the organl-
sEation and maintaining in the field of a
!kreat army.
1t is the present expectation that the
1nnits now here will act as instructors
of the future arrivals. That is the
reason for the intensive training which
rs now being rushed at a speed I'M
precedented in the history of military
organizations. The British. as we'll as
the French, are offering every co-opera-
tion. They are eager to have American
officers and men enter their schools 10
receive special courses. No aid is over
looked in the preparation OF force
able to take its place in the front ilne
trenches and hold a share of the battle
line next spring and possibly earlier
Realization has come to all of the seri-
business of the struggle awaiting them.
Sees Long and Bitter Fight.
Our people at home must awake to
She fact that We are up against bit
Her and probably long fight said an
,Army officer of high rank. who has been
active among the fighting forces Inc
war win be won in America as much
rs on the battlefelds of France. Loyal
and enthusiastic support at home is
needed Some sacrifices are necessary
not only by the men at the front but
by the people at home who are srum-
bling at the cost and the hardships.
This Erumbling must be stopped The
6ardships are petty when compared
with the sacrifices. even to the giving
up Of their lives: which the men are
preparing to make here. All Ameri-
cans should stand shoulder to shoulder
20 be successful in this conflict. which
;sreans life or death to many. The ma
material will be taxed as never before
and as few dreamed when the war
began"
Everything possible is being done to
make the men comfortable and con-
tented during their few idle hours. The
hiivision officers have taken to plan
ming to preserve the health OF the SOL
oilers and to prevent them from becom-
,5ng homesick. The sanitation methods
surprise the natives and the list of the
ailing Is vastly smaller than it is in
0ny other army.
! Lack Of tobacco is the chief complaint
30 far and the commanding officers are
unable to account for the delay in send
ing 1t here. Assembly centers. where
competitive games. light reading, writing
and plenty of heat are being prepared
for the accommodation of the men in the
long dark nights of the cold winter COM
ing. 1t Is impossible to heat most of the
quarters. but its absence is not serious.
The men have their centers where they
while away the evenings before bunk
ing in
It is anticipated that the first wild en-
thusiasm Of the French over the arrival
OF the Americans will possibly wane be-
fore long. Months Of training will be
necessary to whip an effective army into
shaR. r.
every urchin passing soldier, and cor
-diality il bubbling over on all sides.
America must also keep up its en-
thusiasm" is the message sent home by
those now In the field
J Gen. Pershing Inspects Camp.
1By the Associated Press.
AMERICAN TRAINING CAMP IN
FRANCE, Wednesday. August Cen.
Rershing gave the American expedition
ary force an example of the strenuous
HE by sweeping through nearly dozen
villages where United States soldiers are
living in France and visiting nearly all
training centers which have been estab-
I9neQ from America 3 nfSC great con-
tribution for the war for democracy.
1t was not a cursory inspection. He
went into minute details all along the
line. questioned private soldiers. COM
pany cooks and various other ranks as
20 how things were going and what, If
anything, could be done to improve the
situation
Gen. Pershing was expected Monday.
but delayed leaving Paris until late yes
Serday. He spent the night at quaint
Sittle French village and reached the
american army area early today His
visit was entirely informal. and he
found the force just as he desired-en-
Eaged in their daily routine work and
drill
The general is also inspecting various
places suggested for his field headquar-
tiers. for he expects before very long
5n training. He will return to Paris
late tomorrow.
Principal Task to Perfect Army.
At the end of the first days inspec-
tion Gen. Pershing said:
Our principal concern just now, of
course, is to perfect the army orgaui-
cation This is big task. but it is
moving along smoothly and in most
ieatisfactory manner.
l. The work at certain ports of disem-
barkation is well started. Railroad ma
terial is coming over as rapidly as can
be arranged The progress we have
fhe French. is a source of great salts