Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-19
GEN. PERSHING
ASKS PRIVATE
MANY QUESTIONS

win the American Army in France.
Sunday, Feb. 17.-(By The Associated
Press).--General Pershing has COM
pleted two-days inspection of the
American sector northwest of Toul IN
tin hat with gas mask swung
over his chest at the alert position. the
American COMMUNICATIVE chief walked
through all the first line trenches,
splashing through the mud and slip
ping on the ice. He dropped down into
the Guscuts and visited batteries bus
iN hurting iron rations" at the en-
envy.
In al places he asked innumerable
questions especially Of the men with
regard to feed, how they were and how
they liked conditions. All except one
cock aGrecd that they We're perfectly
satisfied with everything. TO the cook
General Pershing said:
You are getting enough to seat
NO. SIR the cook replied.
What" said the general. You are
cook and do not get sufficient food. |
never heard of il cook in such a condi-
non before"
well, sir did not mean that exact
~ mean not enough variety"
General pershing asked What he had
for dinner today. The cook answered
that he had roast beef, potatoes. on
ions, white bread. coffee and rice pud-
ding.
THAT seems like q considerable vari-
ety." remarked the general. What else
do YOU want"
We'll, would hike 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 10 eat oue
here"
The line saluled brisily and almost
in Il chorus came the reply: Yes. SIT.
The general next appeared at reSl-
mental headquarters in du2out in
town which has been riddied by shells.
The colonel was not there at the time
and the commander-in- chief called for
all trench and other orders and all pa
pcrs. He sat down and read through
every one of them.
In the dugout General Pershing sug-
gestcd some few changes and in the
trenches he also directed that some
small changes he made.
From a well Suitated point through
glasses he inspected Mont zee and the
German observation posts on top Of
it, from which the enemy has the Am
crican lines under observation for 20
miles when the visibility is good. Be
cause of the haze the general was I'M
able to see the spires Of Metz which
are visible on clear days from q GER
tain place.
Many soldiers in line recognized the
commander -chief as he passed them
or stopped to question them. bur others
did not. One young infantry man aft
or General Pershine and the general in
command of that particular brigade
had passed. asked who is that with
the four stars on his coat
\ comrade informed him, whereupon
the inquisitive one replied:
rs that so? Whoever saw a COM
mander in chiet of an army walking
around i'll a trench asking some private
if he had enough to cat or il his feet
were dry? 1t is not being done"
1t took a lieutenant to convince the
doubtful soldier it was General PERISH
ing he had seen. Throughout the in
spection tour General Pershing limped
"a little. his ankle having been injured
slightly few days ago, At the bat
teries he asked the artil!erymen the
same questions as he put to the in
fantry men, making sure that they all
were contentcd and had no cause for
complaint
Similar inspection trips will be made
from time to time by General PERISH
ing. as he is determined that the AM
erican soldiers at all times shall have
tho maximum of protection under the
best conditions possible.