The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-12-31
PERSH|NC' LIFE
At HEADQUARTERS
UNOSTENTAT|OUS
BUSY BUT SIMPLE L,FE--Hls OF
FlcE NOT DISTINGUISHED
FROM OTHERS THERE.
TRIPS FROM HIS CHATEAU TO
OFFICE MADE IN MOTOR CAR,
FOLLOWED ~ OTHERS.
HAS KEPT HIMSELF IN SPLENDID
PHYSICAL CONTROVERSIAL
LEAN AND cLEAR-EYED.
tBy the Associated Press)

CHAUMONT. HAUTE MARINE.
France. Nov. 23.--When he Ia here at
, General Headquarters, General Per-
ahing leads very busy but very SIM
pie life. There Ia little ceremony Of
an ostentatious kind either at his cha
/ teau or around his offices. There l.
+ nothing to distinguish his office rooms
In "a building of the headquarters
| group from those of any other officer
One orderly sits at his door, there Is
no sentry and the visitor walks unan-
nounced into the adjoining reception
room to be received by one Of his staff.
| General Pershng's trips to and from
his chateau in the country are made
IN his motor car, distinguished only
by its red four-starred insignia oI the
windshield and where woul1 be the
number plate. which slips unneticad
along the road and through the city.
Ordinarily he IL accompanied only by
his personal aide. his staff following
at a distance great enough not to mark
the big cars as one squadron.
Takes Walks and RIDGE Horseback.
In fine weather he sometimes walk
ed the two or three miles from the
outskirts OF Chaumont to his country
home. and that, with quiet horseback
rides through the beautiful country
hereabouts, gave him his needed ex
ercise.
Much Of his time since last spring
when the American forces began real
participation In strength in tho fight.
ing, has been spent at Advanced Army
Headquarters These have BEEN at
various places, sometimes at asdis
lance to entail long, hard automobile
rides from them to Chaumont when
circumstances demanded hts presence
here. Often after hard day at Al
i yanced Headquarters the General has
made the three or four.hour drive lats
at night, only to depart early the next
day. His powerful closed car with
double rear wheels usually travels
at high speed and in Its comfortable
cushions he obtains the rest denied
him in bed.
Life Plain to Simplicity.
i Life at General Pershlng's chateau
is plain to the point OF simplicity Ex-
cept for the beautiful old castle and
its picturesque setting In the Valley
OF the Marine, 1t might be the home life
OF any fairly we'll to do American
business man. Only uniforms Of his
military household set It apart. His
personal staff lives with him and hls
servants are negro soldiers detailed.
And they are good cooks as his few
guests can testify, placing on his Ia
BILE simple, well-cooked American
dishes, usually three or at most four
courses, including coffee and cheese
and served American style.
|, No sentries are In evidence, moth
ing to mark the chateau as the resi-
dence Of the Commander-in-Chief The
visitors car drives through plain
unguarded gateway In closely set
grove, along q curving roadway for a
few hundred yards. and then only Is
had the first glimpse Of the old castle,
lying In its parks and lawns bordered
on one side by long, sweeping curve
OF the River Marine and its canal, lined
on either bank with tall poplars set
equidistant and lending an added
formality to the always formal French
! landscape. ~
, Meals Served informally.
/ Often General Pershfng, himself,
! rises from a seat on the terrace to
, greet guest and, IL not, one of his
staff. The meal Is very informal. con-
versation being general and the Com
mander-ln-Chief apparently does not
like to linger at table. Afterward COT
fee and cigars In the big lounge room
= or stroll under the trees until the
General indicates that his leisure Is
, ended.
8 General Pershing has kept himself
in splendid physical condition during
these trying months. He is as lean
Q and clear-eyed as he was when he
came fro mthe Mexican campaign, as
f0snthusa Oh page thrss)