The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-21
French Commander Delight
I'd With Appearance Of
Training Troops.
PERsHING NOTICES
GREAT IMPROVEMENT
General Satisfied With Ad-
vdncenent Men Have
Made Under French.
BY the Associated Press.

American Training Camp in France.
Sunday. Aug. l9.-tencral P,tain.
conmandcr-in-c chief of the French
armies, paid his first visit to the
American troops in France today and
expressed himself as delighted with
what III saw.
y am exceedingly pleased and graft
fled With what | have seen during
this inspection" he said Framing
has progressed so wen that feel GER
tain the American troops viii form IN
excellent fighting force IN a very short
time"
Persh;no Goes to Front.
The French general was accom-
panied BY Major General John j. Per-
shing. the American commander and
both left this afternoon for the French
front. where they will remain several
days. They had a Very busy day, mo-
tcrine 100 miles or more and inspect
ing almost every village in which
Americans are billeted. In addition
General Petain held review Of the
famous chasseur division. which has
been training the Americans for the
last month.
Addressing the officers Of this di-
vision. General Petain said they had
rendered a notable service both to
France and to America and that their
battalions had become sister battalions
to the American contingent. The
Americans, he added, had expressed
the hope that some day they would
have the privilege Of fighting along
side their French instructors and of
proving what apt pupils they can be.
psrshinu Finds Improvement.
Major General Pershing also was
pleased with his inspection of the
American troops. He noted material
improvements everywhere, and said:
II am extremely well satisfied with
what l have seen today. 4 thing
which particularly strikes one about
the Americans is the fine spirit which
prevails both among officers and men.
Training is progressing rapidly and
i satisfactorily in every respect"
l The day was one Of brilliant sun
shine and during the greater part OF
the review Il beautiful silver colorcd
French airplane played above the
lhcadss OF the soldiers. There were
several German airplanes near the
camp late yesterday and it is reported
that French airmen brought one OF
! them down while it was cndeavorng
to return home.
petain Looks Yankees Over.
| General. Petain made a close inspcc
ton OF several American battalions
land seemed particularly interested in
the various items of their equipmen nj
Ic stopped in front of several soldiers
and examined their kits in detail,
The broad -brimmed American cam
paign hats also claimed a great dca
OF, his attention. He took one of thts.
from soldiers head, weighing it i,
his hands. ana studied it for severa
minutes and then carefully replaced
and adjusted it on the American.
head. the soldier standing at rigid at
tention the whole time.
This is very, good. very good" sait
the general. ut is especially fine il
such a s,,n rs we have today"
! "And for rain, too" added Genera
Pershing.
Fine Men," Says Petain.
'TheX are fine young men of splcn
did physique: intelligent and mos
! satisfactory looking soldiers in ever,
way" said General Petain to several q
the captains of American cornpa nies
who repeated his words to their com
mands when the general had passed O,
his way