Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-27
GREAT AMERICAN LEADER
Gen. Pershlng Believes In Doughboys
and They Believe ln Him.
RIGHT NAN IN The RIGHT PLACE
Intimate Personal Sketch that Gives
a Very Good Idea Of the Man Who
Has Command Of the Greatest
Army in the World.

lntimate FeTSoUdi 0NetSU tHdh S'sSa
Very Good Idea Of tho Man Who
Has Command Of the Greatest
Army in the World.
American ideals. defense OF which
threw the country into the world war,
are the backbone OF the American
lighting men in France. declares
Charles y. Wheeler. writing from an
American army camp in France. De-
Tending these ideals At any sacrifice
explains why the American soldier,
without regard TO rank or class In
civil life. becomes crusader, says
Mr.. Wheeler, in a cable dispatch to
the Chicago Tribune.
This Is the substance OF General
Pcrshing's estimate of the doughboy.
1t was expressed since the present
offensive was launched. and after he
had in person paid his tribute on he
half OF the country to many OF the
wounded heroes as they were shunt-
ed back from the battlcfclds.
The world knows Pershing. the SOL
dIpr. pcrshing. the man, Is exceeding
ly Interesting. The affection his troops
have for him is more than the thrill
horn OF the battlefield or mere hero
worship II is personal. To the
doughboys OF all ranks the mention
of the generals name evokes EXPIRES
sions of warm affection. Men who
never saw him remark what Il fine
man their general is.
His influence throughout all
branches OF the army is tremendous.
Just as men in civil life admire a man
they never saw. for what they believe
him to be, so the American soldiers
who have not seen him face to face
have u deep affection for the chief.
Those who know him personally. love
him. II is n very devoted army the
commander in chief Is leading up the
Hill of world democracy.
His Visits to Hospitals.
Every doughboy feels that the gem
rr,,l Is for him. Whenever Pershing
arrives at Il place where there are
American wounded he pays the hos
pital visit. though II must In brief.
He is 4 man OF few words-vcry few
but they mean a great deal when
spoken by the chief TO the Yanks.
The visits in many cases are wonder
full. helps to surgeons and nurses.
~. ha
glcam. 4 handclasp and u word OF
commentator causes many severe
hurts 10 mend rapidly. Pershing tells
them how proud their country is OF
them.
Deeds OF unparalleled heroism are
common in this tremendous clash Of
blood and iron, and back in the hos
pitfalls one Bees the fine. naked souls
appraised with ever increasing amaze.
ment. The folks back home. as
whole, have a four-thousand mile
view OF the inferno and canRot vision
the superhuman grit required. But
they would understand what stuff
their sons, from all parts OF America,
arc made OF II they could talk to them
in the hospitals.
No matter how severe their hurts.
all express the hope that they may
get back TO the front. The old adage
that a burned child doesn't thrust iss
hand into the same fire twice does not
hold good here. The uppermost
thought still Is OF service to the coun-
try TO the last spark that Is in them.
The ideal burns brightly in these
racked bodies.
1t is this spirit that General PERISH
ing has observed in hundreds OF visits
to the wounded. 1t must encourage
him greatly. ! saw him one night as
he made one OF these visits and was
deeply impressed. He just had time
for a handgrasp. a smile. and a word
of hope as he passed from cot TO cot.
General did we take our object
ivc?" asked one fervently.
Another, answering question as to
where he was hurt, drew a quick word
picture of the spot where his pla-
toon went into q German machine
gun nest, and added: you remem-
ber, general, it was right over there
in that corner as you come over the
brow Of the hill.
Fighting for Their Ideals.
Pershing wesr't at this point, but
the boys seem u feel that he Is with
them wherever they are fighting. His
comment to his staff was: THE un-
conqucrablc spirit OF men who fight
for their IDEALS
There was q little time left before
leaving this town and the general
hunted up the Y. NJ. G. A. Some 200
doughboys were in the hut. An
American made piano was doing its
bit splendidly as a Chicago ragtime
expert was hurling himself back and
forth over the keyboard and about 200
pairs OF hobnailed shoes were beating
time. They didn't know Pershing was
in town. A yell went up near the door
Looking around to see what the trou-
blc was all about, the other 1sO
Jumped to their feet and stood at at
tention and then let loose a cheer that
made things rattle.
The general was among his boys
and the smile above the protruding
chin was like a greeting from home.
He told them he had just dropped In
to see how they were getting along
and was glad 10 observe that every
thing seemed to be in apple pie order.
He spoke n few words Of commenda-
ton and told them they were doing
their part we'll and expressed the ma
tion's pride in them.
There hung on the wall Of this hut.
as there does In every Y. II. c. A. hut
in France, a picture Of Pershing. and
underneath the picture these words
over the generals signature:
Hardship will be your lot, but
trust in God will give you comfort.
Temptation win befall you. but the
teaching OF our Savior will give you
strength. Let your yalor as a soldier
and YOUR conduct as a man be an In