Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-07
.PERsH|NG's EYE KEEN ! J. !.
FOR SMALLEST DETAILS
Intimate Sketch of His Flyinn Visit
to Evolutionary Forces
Camp in France.
NO OBJECTS ARE OVERLOOKED
American Com m n d Q ri n-Chiof
Thinks Constantly of Welfare OF
Men, and Sees That They Get the
Best Of Everything.
ny c. f. nEnTEILL


Paris. August 10 tby maiD.-"Fight-
ing Jack" Pershing paid his first n.y.
ing visit to the American training
camp In France, and left behind him
trail OF burning ears. electrified
men and spirit of grim. military
aoSgedness that brought the newest
recruit to a realization that war, even
IN the training, may be all General
sherman said it was. and then some.
Tho soldiers knew nothing about it.
out tho American commander was Elk
pected to arrive on Monday He
didn't. The camp went on with Its
routine life. Bright and early Tuesday
morning the general drove into. the
nrst camp en- route from Paris. and
thlnga began to hum.
Cavalry were drilling in huge field
OF to the left, while on the right a
Eroup OF infantry was practicing with
tho bayonet. u bombing squad was
throwing grenades and engineers were
snoring up practice trench.
CAVALRY SIGHT PERsHING
WHEN HE ARRIVES IN CAMP
The cavalry commander WAS the first
to spot the generals erect form.
Tention" he sang out
Tho whole squad drew up short
Ihere' 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
ioriehy. and he strode over to the in
fantry.
Some Of the men were 80 busily en-
gagged In trying to perforate stuffed
sawdust bags representing supposi-
ious Germans they failed to note the
approach OF the general.
AT the second cry of '",Tention -
! they stopped and stiYened up, guns
Gathering to their sides, eyes rightly
nxed front--all except one man. who
followed the generals movements as
ne made rapid inspection OF their
arms.
The general stopped before him.
The first principle Of soldier is to
learn to stand ut attention." said he
crispiy Sergeant. have this man
stand at attention for Ave minutes"
Fall out" ordered the sergeant.
the ranks
Tention," snapped the sergeant.
The soldier fixed his eyes grlmIy in
front OF him and never moved them.
Fall back!" exploded the sergeant
nj tho end OF the five minutes. and tho
Incident was closed
TEXAN WITH A PICK
COMES TO ATTENTION
General PershinE talked earnestly
80 oc'uS tcu minutes Win the reEi-
mental commander. commencing the
men for some OF their work. pointing
out their faults. Then he passed ON
70 the bombers and sappers. A husky
Texan. with his back turned toward
the commander chief. was still
swinging his pick.
Ho stopped with It poised In mid
air ut the again repeated, '"Tentionr 20
and stood like a statue OF labor per-
sonified.
The general regarded him fixedly
Tor minute. and then smile spread
over his face.
Give them the at ease order" he
commanded
The sapper dropped his pick ut his
side with Sign OF relief. but at the
order, Resume work." started in VIC
iously attacking the spongy earth
The bombers went through the third
degree. with flying colors. General
Pershlng making only one comment,
when he suggested that one Of their
number put little moro force behind
his throw and not try spitball work
with hand grenade.
Then the train OF motor cars made
OF the practice fields in the direction
of the nearest village where troops
were btlIetted, some OF them off duty
and Longing around.
The chief commanders car pulled up
before combination stable, hay-Ioft
and dwelling place that the French
peasants had shared Unfortunately
with their 'feathered and barnyard AMI
mails.
Perehing 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 OvERCRowDING
IN ONE BILLET
His name was given.
Tell him to change these men to
another billet where they wont BIO
SO crowded." was the order
Then tho chIeffain damned i--t.