The Washington herald., 1917-07-01
COL. GEORGE b. DUNCAN,
Active Detail.

SOLs Ds Dt&NSN&Nb
Active Detail.
Born in Kentucky, October 10. 1851.
and appointed to the Military Acad-
emy from that State In 1852. In 1856
he was col missioned a second lieuten-
ant In the Ninth Infantry, and has
served continuously in that arm Of the
service.
Col, Duncan was recently released
from detail to the General Staff Corps
to join one Of the infantry regiments
to be sent to the French front, and Is
now on the field at the head Of a regi-
ment of regulars.
Col. Duncan is an exceedingly active
officer and maintains a wonderful con-
troll of his men. He first distinguished
himself in the Philippine Islands.
where, after serving for two years
in the field. he was in 1900 appointed
chief of scouts, in which capacity he
did creditable work.
A dispatch from Paris announces
that the American enlisted men who
came to France with Maj. Gen. Per-
shing are having experiences with
foreign habits, languages, and rations
which indicated what the main body
of American troops will find. The
Americans are quartered at the Pep
iniere Barracks, a huge quadrilateral
on Place st. Augustin, one Of the CEN
trail locations Of Paris and near the
opera House and the boulevards. There
are housed three troops from all the
allied nations, including Russians, Ser
bians, Belgians, Rumanians, Cana
dams, Australians, and New Zealand
ers, with sixty American troopers, en-
gineers, and automobile drivers among
the latest arrivals. The vast central
court presents a strange sight in the
mingling of the uniforms and f1ags OF
the various nations.
Each contingent has its own drills
and its own living and eating quarters,
but when the men are on duty the
court is crowded with the soldiers,
speaking many languages and attempt
ing to make themselves understood
with signs. The American troops are
on French military rations, which they
like better than American or British
rations, for in addition to an abun-
dance of well-cooked food, they en-
brace the regular French allowance Of
wine, which, however may be discon-
tinued when the American rations are
established.
The chief novelty for the American
Is the continental breakfast, restricted
to bread and coffe. Lunch and dinner
are served in courses, with plenty Of
meat and vegetables. The meatless
days do not apply to the military,
as the French policy is to limit the re-
strictions on meat, sugar. etc, to
civilians, in order that the fighting
forces may be kept UP to the full
measure of energy.
The sleeping quarters are plain and
comfortable, with good beds, clean
sheets, and ample sanitary arrange
ments. The Americans are on a regu-
lar schedule, with reveille at o'clock
in the morning, breakfast at Z. inspec-
ton at s, and then a round of duties,
concluding with taps at 10 p. m.
Referring to the instructions for as
sembling the infantry equipment,
model of 1910, the chief OF ordnance
of the army says:
THE methods of placing clips of
cartridges in the cartridge belt, as
stated in the instructions referred to,
is the same as that used for cartridge
belts in use in the military service
prior to the adoption of the model Of
1910 belt. The clips of cartridges in
serted in the cartridge pocket on the
belt, one clip with the point down, the
other point upward would more nearly
equalize the dimensions of the con-
tents Of the cartridge pocket and
would keep the pockets in a more uni
form shape than If the cartridges were
inserted both clips points downward.
No objection can be seen to inserting
the two clips of cartridges points down
in the cartridge pocket, provided this
method of carrying the cartridges is
satisfactory to the service"