The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-25
PERSH|NG FINDS
ARMY IMPROVED
Inspection Shows Americans
in France Have Been Max
ing Steady Progress
GENERAL SURE OF
ULTIMATE VICTORY
Manner in Which Young American Sol
diers Have Come Across Seas and
Settled Down to Task of Learning
War Is Remarkable.

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
| FRANCE, Feb. 25.-General Pershino
has returned to his desk at great head
| quarters after his inspection tour Of
| the American front He keeps IN good
| health, which is remarkable, consider
| ing the tremendous amount of WORK lie
sets through daily. From morning til
night numbers of officers arrive from
| various division headquarters with dis
| patches demanding his attention, and in
| addition to hundreds of cables, tele-
| grams, and letters which he has to read
he dictates and signs replies
The commander in chief is optimistic
IN regard to the war and firm in his
| belief that it will end favorablv for the
allies. The American army is making
steady progress daily and by midSum
| mcr ought to be in position II give
material aid to our allies Shipment
of men, supplies, and equipment shows
| an increase and will improve mo;e rap
idly when the coal crisis in America is
over and ships can sail regularly with
ont being subject to delay.
The air service has not made the
progress expected on account of delay
IN carrying out contracts for construe-
| tlon of airplanes. The personnel could
| not be better. BY June it is expected
| the air service vii be able TO show sat
| isfactorv results.
| An American air service officer sail
| that the delivery Of number Of
| French, British, and Italian airplanes
| was expected soon. There are plenty
! OF American fiers here, but not one
| trained machine gun fighter There are
| no American machines in the air at the
| front SO far. Filters have gone out over
the German lines in French MACHINES
] as observers
There has been considerable improve
ment in the troops in the trenches since
| General Pershing's first visit fouY
weeks ago. Thea the soldiers had lust
| gone IN and were rather green to their
| duties on the front, as il was their first
| glimpse of war at close range. Now
/ they have become more accustomed to
routine life in the trenches. Tricks
| played by the Germans at night do
not startle them, as they understand
tho game better
The American army in France III
/ point Of discipline. morale, sobrietv.
| and attention to duty is good. The
manner in which young American sol
| dlers have come across the sea and
| @2ttled down to the task of learning
war is remarkable They all look the
/ picture Of health and go about their
work IN steady, determined, soldierlv
| manner that has won the admiration
| OF French civilians who come in con
tact with them, az we'll as military off !
| Gals. Nobody understands whence the
| person who made the statement in
America accusing our soldiers of drink
| ing and bad conduct obtained his in
| formation They could not have had
any foundation whatever upon which
such charges could be based.
| Intelligence officers saw they cannot
permit designation of troops in the
trenches to be given out, because that
would be valuable information to the
| Germans. To learn what troops are IN
front OF them the Germans have to
| send out raiders and sacrifice a numbar
Of men in an effort to capture prisoners
;! The American army has to do the same.
! Prisoners of war generally reply TO
| Questions put By their captors to save
| their lives
Later, when all divisions are in the
trenches, the states from which troops
| come will be given out after an engar co.
ment but no details as to whether IN, Y
| are regulars, National Guard. or ma
| tlonal army, as it is the intention that
| the force in France shall be known
only as the American army.