The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-22
Gen. Pershing Forced to
. Take Action When Trans
pOrtatiOn in France Failed
RAIN LEAKED ON
MEN ASLEEP, HE SAYS
Different Departments Bid Against
Each Other, Causing Big Rise in the
Prices-Profiteers Fastened Them
selves on American Army.

CHICAGO, Jan. 22.-Joseph B. Pier
sen, who has been in France for several
months III charge Of the Tribune s
Paris paper, has written an article on
conditions in the American overseas
forces in part as follows:
Robinson Crusoe landed on his is
land with more equipment i'll hand than
is possessed by the ordinary American
soldier disembarking in France.
Large quantities of some kinds of
supplies have been moved into France
by the United States, but the trans
portation facilities have been insult
cient mere to handle them with expedi-
zion, nor had the units which the Wash
ington authorities sent here been able
to attain functioning stage, until
Gen. Pershing undertook series Of in
spection tours, which still are in prog
reSs.
These inspection tours have been d
series of surprise parties for certain
branches of the force, and many heads
have fallen-iust how many il is i'm
possible exactly TO say.
The result within the last month or
two has been to quicken the use OF
the forces, to relieve the congestion OF
| the headquarters officers in Paris, and
to put the men who have come here il
places where they may find the widest
| field for their labor and skill.
In September the number of the
American expeditionary forces il
| France began to attain respectable
| figure. As the forces grew consider
able, and as Gen. Pershing began t
| tighten up the supply lines with a de
/ termination to make the forces indie
lpendent of French assistance, the neeC
ppeared for considerable overhaulinc
! in all departments of supply and ad
ADMINISTRATION between the sea bases anC
the training camps.
Quickly observing these weaknesses
the commander i'll chief i'll the begin
! plD4 Of 0etobers staEted gut On, a SERIES
Of swift and quiet inspection tours
which brought the entire army organi
| cation to its feet, to attention. from
dock laborers to intelligence officers.
Between the training camps and tn,
sea bases Gen. Pershing was confront
ed with a situation of more RESPONSE
bility and more difficulty than any 9th
or military commander probably ha
been called upon suddenly to solve
Troops disembarked at their station
in France without their kits and thei
equipment were thrown into .incomplet
barracks without clothing to keep then
warm, and even in a few cases withou
covering to keep the rain from drip
ping upon them as they slept.
Other units arrived without adequat
clothing and were supplied from the re
serves of Allied nations. This was tn
ease with the engineers sent to tn
British front which took part later i
the repulse of the Germans before Can
brai.
Other units were receiving made
quate food supplies, and such as the
received often was mediocre.
On the other hand, there were fairl
large supplies Of food and building m;
terial for military purposes availabl
in France, either in private hands {
sent by the Washington govcrnlnen
but they We're not reaching the place
where needed
In Paris the United States arm
quartermaster was bidding against Il
AVIATION supply department and ever
other army purchasing department, u,
til French consumers were complain
ing of the height to which the Anne
lean buyers were forcing the prices.
Profiteers were fastening themselv
: like leeches on the American arm
e One firm of expatriated Americans
5 Paris sold large quantities of suppl
/ to enc branch of the army in which
{ was discovered former employees Of Il
firm had managed to employ thel
selves.
: Paris was filing up with Unit,
II States army officers. Second ieute
. ants were more common than private
Prices in restaurants and stores in Pa
is rapidly rose, affecting the who
French civilian population.
II AZ the new year opens it is MAJ
It fest that an amazing change has tax
y place. Many army men profess tn
Y are unable to understand it.
S 1t is Black Jack Pershing's new We
-e gift to the American nation.