The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
PERSHING HAS
AN INVISIBLE
HEADQUARTERS
American General and His,
Staff Work Behind Tn
marked Doors.
PRESENCE UNSUSPECTED
LiaisOn Between Units Proved
Perfect in Recent st.
Mihiel Battle.
PRESENCE UNSUSPECTED
by RAYMOND G. CARROLL.
Special Cdble Despatch TO THE srS and He
Pubic LedQer

Public Ledger
Copyright; 1915: all rights reserred.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Sept. 2i.-Everybody has his
chance in the American Army--even
the millionaires. This cablegram con-
Germs Private Lawrence Lewis OF
Greenbrler Springs. Va. who married
a Flagler heiress and TO whom child
was born after his arrival in France.
II never knew he was wealthy" said
Capt. Arthur L. Dasher OF Macon, Ga.
commander of a battery Of "heavies"
oni the ST. Mihiel front. II made him
a stable sergeant because he was pos
sessed OF a fine knowledge of horses.
It's queer he didn't tell me he had pre-
viously owned a racing stable. Once
he asked me IL it would be permissible
for him to use his army pay TO buy
fruit for the battery mess. I allowed
IL was. He told me he had worked for
his father at s125 a month.
weeks later. after had recon-
mended him for Lieutenant's COM
mission, ! iiees=ned by accident that he
was wealthy. called him in and
His reply was: 4 did not want the
boys to think I was putting anything
over on them. II get ahead In the
army 1t must be on my personal merit
"On this last score Lewis need have
nsSfear. He has the esteem and ad-
miration OF the entire battery"
Americans FIJI French Towns.
This young millionaire attended The
officers training school in France and
now he has the best wishes OF every
doughboy in his battery. These boys
know nothing about his social position.
Locked in the stern embrace of the
First United States Army. somewhere
in France. from which no information
is allowed to flter via train. wire or
highway. one feels the tremendous power
and mystery OF assembled numbers. We
cannot go to Paris in fact we cannot
go anywhere. and wise is the order, for
We have become compact American
unit--many who act as one toward
determined, common purpose.
Behind the huge curtain OF authority.
guarded by the red brassard of the mil
itary police, within this vast military
cocoon we lead the cobwebby life OF war
time butterflies. In scores OF French
towns and villages the streets are filled
with our troops Occasionally when one
ventures in the evening into the rolling
countryside spaces it is possible to gaze
on the vast panorama OF American in
fantry spread over the hills Of Lorraine
now turping to golden brown. Up
forward. along the upper rim OF the
scotched st, Mihiel salient. one finds
more khaki lads in their newly dug po-
sitions, with ammunition and supplies
choking all the transverse roadways.
The roar OF many cannon is heard,
while above the murmur of birds pass
and repass countless fighting ayiators.
completing the picture. No longer are
we fragile We have swelled into a
potent. powerful whole. equal in size TO
any one OF the half dozen largest Amer
lean cities. This estimate does not in
clude the French civil population. who
tolerantly make room for US upon their
sidewalks. where they have placed tables
for our convenience.
To one who has seen the American ef-
fort grow up on FRENCH soil from a
single butternut colored division to pro-
portions that stagger the widest imsgi-
nation II all has had an atmosphere of
magic. The days drone along like
dreams and the nights are wakeful
periods, when fancy drops away from
realities OF the present to memories OF
settled lives running piacidly along un-
der gentle social pressure in our distant,
overseas homes. In the day time all this
fades into the pavement of a huge mill
tary boulevard. down which our bronzed
and muscled thousands are marching.
"Our Army" Is Chief Topic.
We are in a world apart from those
who think and act as individuals. Be-
fore we had our own army our soldiers
put their chief interest in what this
or that division was doing. Now all is
changed Officers and men who get
! brief tespites from the grind of war
to visit the nearest recreation centre
stand massed In separate groups, dis
cussing what "our army" has done.
commenting upon It's emotions, its brav-
cry and it's performances.
With replacements from newly arrived
| units seeping into the first come divi-
sions. I have watched the transforma-
lion OF divisions from State bodies into
national organizations. in turn TO be
swalloped up by the men OF the First
American Army. know OF companies
! that have representatives from as many
as twenty different States regiments OF
Northern boys commanded by Southern
nd tstn