New Britain herald., 1918-02-18
PERSHING INSPECTS
 AMERICAN SECTOR
Inquiries Among Soldiers Con-
 cerning Food and Living ONE COOK DISSATISFIED

But COmplainS-Priva vate Surprised
 Commander Should Be So Informal
 With the American Army ifF France, Feb. ' (By the Associated Press s)-General Persbing has com pleted 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 n-chief walked through all tho first line trenches, passing through the mud and slipping on the ice. He dropped down into the dugouts and visited batteries busy hurlng iron rations" at the enemy.
 In all places he asked innumerable questions, especially of the men, re- garding food, how they were and how they liked conditions. All ex- cept one cook agreed that they were perfectly satisfied with everything. To the cook General Pershing said:
 You are getting enough to eat?'
 No sr,' the cook replied
 ''What?' said the general. You the cook and do not get sufficient
 
 such 9 condition before"
 Not Enough Variety.
 Well, sir, I did not mean that exactly. I mean not enough va riety.",
 General Pershing asked what he had for dinner today. The cook re- piled he had roast beef, potatoes, onions white bread, coffee and rice pudding.
 ''That seems like a considerable variety,' remarked the general "What else do you want?"
 ''WeH, 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 al most in chorus came the reply:
 Yes sir
 The general next appeared in regi- mental hea eadQuarters in a dugout in town which had been riddled by shells. The colonel was not there at the time and the general called for all trench and other orders and all papers, He sat down and read through eIe1N one Of them
 Tn the dugouts the general sug- gested some few changes here and there and in the trenches he directed that some small changes be made.
 PcCl,s at German Lines.
 From a well situated point through glasses he inspected Mont Sec and the German observation posts on ton of it from which the enemy has the American limos under observat ton for 20 miles when tho visibility is gOpI Because of the haze the general was unable to see the spires of Metz which are visible on clear days from sL certain place
 Many soldiers recognized him as he passed or stopped them to question them, but others did not. One young infantryman, after Gen. PGrshinc and the general in command of that hri- gade had passed, asked:
 "Who is that with the four stars on his coat?"
 A comrade informed him, where- upon the inquisitive one replied:
 E'Is that so? Whoever saw a com mander-in -in-chief of an army walking around in a trench asking some pri- vate whether he had enough to eat or if his feet were dry It is not be- ing done"
 It took a, lieutenant to convince the doubtful soldier that it was Gen. Pershing he had seen.
 Throughout the inspection the gen- eral limped a little, his ankle havlng been injured slightly a few days ago. At the batteries, the general asked the artilIorXmen the same questions as he put to the infantrymen. making sure that they all were contented and had no cause for complaint
 Similar inspection trips will bo made from time to time by Gen. Pershinc as he is determined that the American soldiers at all times shall have the maximum of protection un- der the best conditions possible.