The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-01

vall He holds himself like an abso-
lutely fit and athletic man.
Gen. Pershing exalts health. He
takes daily cold baths, one Of his
young aids told me, and often in the
dead Of winter runs and exercises in
the open air clad only in a thin bath
robe. To bring every man in the
army up to his physical standards
Is the commanders expressed ambi-
ton. To make them supremacy
healthy, efficient fighting men, and
to return them to their mothers NOR
ally as we'll as physically sound, is
Gen. Pershing's conception Of his re-
sponsibility as head Of the American
army.
1t is always interesting to know
how we appear in the eyes of strang-
ers, and an article published in a
wellknown French magazine shows
! has made to the imagination of our
allies. According to the French writ
er, there are two men in the Amer
lean commander in chief, one Of them
Anglo Saxon, the other a French
man. In 1749 the ancestors of Gen.
Pershing ernigrated from Alsace to
America, and Alsace in the eyes Of
all Frenchmen is and always will
be France.
If by rare favor you are received
by Gen. Pershing in his Paris home
you meet the Anglo Saxon, says this
reporter. There his GOODNESS is pos
itively British. Tall. slender as a
sublieutenant, well set up in his kha-
XII brown uniform, four stars on the
shoulders and on the collar the gold
orr1A 30 ~ nT,Iv
Pershing receives you in a manner
courteous but glacial. He is entirely
the official, conscious of his great
responsibilities, and determined to
keep silence concerning official mat
ters. His blue eyes are clear and
cold, even hard. Above his strong
jaw, indicative Of implacable energy,
his lips, saber- straight, wear no
smile.
Do not attempt to get from him
any details of his mission in France,
or try to induce him to give you any
personal souvenirs or anecdotes of his
hour of the French front. His aide
de-camp and interpreter has an in
variable reply to all such questions:
The general has nothing to say
Above all, never venture to ask a
question concerning his private life,
look in his cold eyes becomes hostile.
Before the question is fairly out the
answer comes: 1.-THE general does
not think that would interest the
public
But if by happy circumstances you
are privileged to enter the small cir
Gle of Gen. Pershing's friends, what
q delightful metamorphosis! The man
reveals himself simple, charming,
plant, spontaneous. He is the
Frenchman, cordial and communica-
tive, ready to lend himself to the
juvenile gayety which so much
amuses the Anglo Saxon. The blue
eyes that we have seen flash so
coldly are now at once mischievous
and tender. His features are ami
mated, his smile ready.
His Sacrificial Offer.
Everything interests him, science,
art, literature. Music he loves al
most as we'll as paintings, and he
, tells you with that new pleasure every
time he visited the Paris Of pre-war
days, he went each day to the Louvre
galleries. Above all, he tells you
how profoundly happy he is to be
in the war on our side. Certainly
that joy is rooted in the satisfaction
of a soldier fulfilling his duty, but
zen. PerSnlnS Is more imam a. soldier.
He is an idealist called to accomp-
lish high mission, to serve an I'M
selfish cause, to help humanity to a
secure and happy future"
Gen. Pershing never appeared a
bigger man than when he offered to
brigade the American forces in with
the nglish and the French, and him
self take the subordinate position of
a commander without real COM
mand. The offer was made and ac-
cepted in the dark and panic-ridden
early days OF the present German Of
fensive, when it looked as though
the allied lines might be broken, and
all the man power available had to
be modified.
That danger is happily past. The
Germans have struck and the blow
has proved little damaging. The
Americans are to be allowed to fight
under their own flag and their own
officers They will get full credit
for what they do. But the French
and English will never forget that
Gen. Pershing was unselfishly will
ing, when necessary, to forego both
for himself and the American army
every particle Of credit letting the
honors go to the allies. From man
of that character great fighting,
splendid victories may be expected.
Under such a commander our sons
are well secured.