The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-18
.PERSHING IN HIS
TIN HAT" ANDGAS
MASK INSPECTS
TRENCHES
Found Only One Cook Who
Had Any Criticism of
the Food
HE WANTED MORE
"GREEN STUFF"
Man With Four Stars on
Coat" Not Recognized
By Many Soldiers

With the American Army in
France, Sunday, Feb. I7-CBy The
Associated Press. General Pershing
has completed a two days inspection
of the American sector northwest OF
Toul. In "tin hat" with a gas mask
swung over his chest at the alert
position, the American commander
in-chief walked through all the first
line trenches, splashing through the
mud and slipping on the ice. He
dropped down into the dugOuts and
visited batteries busy hurting iron
rations" at the enemy.
In all places the general asked
innumerable questions especially of
the men with regard to food, how
they were and how they liked condi-
tons. All except one cook agreed
that they were perfectly satisfied
with everything. To the cook Gem
eral Pershing said:
You are getting enough to eat?"
mo, sir" the cook replied.
''What?" said the general.
You, the cook, and do not get
sufficient food. 1 never heard OF a
cook in such a condition before"
We'll, sir 1 did not mean that ex-
actly. l mean not enough variety"
Wanted Green Stuff.
General Pershing asked what he
had had for dinner today. The cook
replied that he had roast beef, pota-
toes, onions, white bread, coffee and
rice pudding.
THAT seems like a considerable
what else do you want?"
well, I would like to have some
green stuff, sir
General Pershing then turned to
a long line of soldiers with mess kits
in their hands and asked:
do you men get enough to eat
out here?"
The line saluted briskly and almost
in a chorus came the reply:
Yes, sir
The general next appeared in regi-
mental headquarters in a dugout in a
town which has been riddled by
shells. The colonel was not there at
the time and the commander-in-
chief called for all trench and other
orders and all papers. He sat down
and read through every one of them.
In the dugouts, General Pershing
and there and in the trenches he also
that some small changes be
made.
From a we'll situated point through
glasses General Pershing inspected
Mont Sec and the German observa-
ton posts on top Of it, from which
the enemy has the American lines
under observation for twenty miles
when the visibility is good. Because
Of the haze the general was unable
to see the spires of Metz which are
visible on clear days from a certain
place.
Often Not Recognized.
Many soldiers in line recognized |
the communicative chief as he passed |
them or stopped to question them, |
tryman, after General Pershing and |
the general in commend Of that |
particular brigade had passed, ask |
ed:
WHO is that with the four stars
On his coat?"
A comrade informed him, whereup- |
IN the inquisitive one replied:
'Is that so? Whoever saw a COM
nander-in-c chief Of an army walking |
around in a trench asking some |
private whether he had enough to
Eat or his feet were dry? 1t is not
1eing DONE"
1t took lieutenant to convince the
doubtful soldier that it was General
9ershing he had seen.
Throughout the inspection tour
General Pershing limped a little, his
mike having been injured slightly
few days ago. At the batteries, the
GENERAL asked the artillerymen the
anne questions as he put to the in
antrymen, making sure that they all
we're contented and had no cause for
complaint.
Similar inspection trips will be
made from time to time by General
as the general is determin-
d that the American soldiers at all
lines shall have the maximum of
under the best conditions
ossible.