New Britain herald., 1918-10-26

Copyright. 1918, by William F'oS) DY July 20, 1917, General Pershing D had arranged with the govern
 ment at Washington to provide a regular transatlantic transport service for provisioning and bringing general war supplies to the American Expeditionary Force.
 Thus the United States was to sup ply all the food for the troops. There was world shortage in food in the summer and fall of 1917. The enor- nous armies maintained by the Allies had made a stupendous drain upon all kinds of foodstuffs. The use of all the available man power by these same nations had created a shortage of labor for the fields, and the supply of grains and other foods was less than ever before.
 The United States, before entering the war, had been sending England and France all the supplies that could be spared. Now that America was raising huge army of her own she had an additional call upon her re- sources, and some way had to be de- vised t oprovide for the worlds food supply.
 Upon the request by General Persh- ing that the food situation be taken in hand, the United States govern ment appointed a Food Administrator, and the whole country set out upon 8 policy of food conservation. All available food was sent to Pershing and his army and to our allies. After Americas food reserves had been thus applied, the people saved enough out of their normal consumption to supply the American and allied armies until the following harvest
 Since vast numbers of ships were required to transport troops and food, and the number of ships was constantly decreasing owing to the submarine activities of the Germans, General Pershing put in operation a plan by which many of the supplies needed by the army could be manl- factured in France out of raw ma terials brought from America. The raw material would take up only a small percentage of the space that the manufactured goods would occupy.
 Artillery and ammunition was needed at once and in large quantities. The United States had no immediate facilities for turning out guns i'll the quantities needed. The French army had a large number of the best guns that could be devised and ia abilities for turning them out in vast numbers. Pershing decided it was better that the United States purchase these guns from the French government than to wait upon the American fac tories.
 Tn every detail that related to the efficiency of the army General Persh- ing believed in getting the best that was availa ble--in food, in clothing, and in equipment. He knew that nothing so seriously impairs the morale of an army as ill-fed and dis satisfied men. He knew that disease often kills more men than the bullets of the enemy, and he resolved that this should not be the case with his army.
 Pershing not only had to see that his men underwent a severe training to prepare themselves for their en- trance into the front-line trenches, but he knew that he must undergo a similar training himself in order to be fitted to lead them properly when the time came.
 Every moment that could be spared from his organization work he spent at the front observing the tremendous operations of the opposing armies. The first of these visits to tn efront was on June 20, 1917, when he visit ed Sir Douglas Haig. the British commander in chief, After this he was frequently at the front-especial~ ly when the forces of either side were engaged in some large offensive move- ment.
 Thus he had opportunity to observe