Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-19
AMERICAN Commander
|NsPECTs BATTLE FRONT
Pershing Visits Troops in Trenches
and Puts Pointed Inquiries
as to Ratlons.
COOK ALONE COMPLAINS
Asks That Green Stuff he Added to
His Already Generous Bill of Fare.
BLACK Jack" Views Enemy POSI-
tons Through Glasses.
fBy Associated Prkss.1


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Sunday. February 17.-Gen-
eral Pershing has completed 4 two
day inspection OF the American sector
northwest Of Toul. In a Tin hat" with
a gag mask swung over his ches; at the
alert position, the American comman-
der-in-chief walked through all the
frst-lne trenches. splashing through
the mud and slipping on the ice. He
dropped down into the dugouts and
visited batteries busy hurting Iron
rations" at the enemy.
In all places tho general asked in
Vulnerable questions especially of the
men with regard TO food, how they
were, and how they liked conditions.
All except ono cook agreed that they
were perfectly satisfied with every
thing. TO the cook General Pcrshing
said:
You arc getting enough to cat?"
NO. sir" the cook replied.
What" aaid the general.
You. the cook. ana do not get sum-
cient food. never heard Of a cook in
such !, condition before"
'Wcll, sir. did not mean that cx-
actly. 1 mean not enough variety"
COOKS ANSWER SHOWS
HE WASN'T IOOvERIzING
General PershinC asked what he had
had for dinner to-day. Tho cook re-
piled that he had had roast beef po-
tatoes, onions, white bread, coffee and
rice pudding.
THAT seems like considerable va
ricty," remarked the general. What
else do you want?"
We'll, would like to have some
green stuff. sir"
General pershinG then turned TO a
long line OF soldiers with mesa kits in
their hands and asked DO men get
enough TO cat out hcrc?"
The line salu;ed briskly and almos.
In chorus came the reply:
Yes. sir
The general next appeared in rcgi-
mental headquarters in "A dugout in a
town which has been riddled by shelly.
The colonel was not there at the time
and the commanicr-in-chicfc called for
all trench and other orders and papers
He sat down and read through every
one Of them.
IN the dusouts. General Pershing
suggested some few changes here and
there. and III the trenches he also d.
rcctcd that some small changes be
made
GENERAL rEnSHISG TAKES
VIEW OF ENEMY POSITIONS
From weil-situated point through
glasses. General Pcrshing inspected
Mont Sec and tho German observation
posts on tor OF il, from Which the
enemy has the American lines under
observation for twenty miles when
tho Visibility IL good. Because of the
haze tho genera! WAS unable TO sec tho
spires OF Metz. which arc visible on
clear days from certain place
Many soldiers in line recognized the
comnandcr-in-chi as he passed them
or stopped to question them blu,
others did not. One young infantry
man. after General Pcrshing 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. whercupon
the inquisitive one replied:
rs that so? Whoever saw con- .
mander-in-c OF an army walking
around in a trench asking some pri
Naie whether he hid enough to cat or
ms icet were dry? II is not being
done"
1t took lieutenant 10 convince The
"oup'iut soiuier that II was General
Pcrshing he had seen
throughout the inspection tour
General Pershing imped little his
"hkio having been injured slightly "A
lew days ago. AT the batteries tho
Gehcrai asked the arti!lerymen the
same questions as ne put 10 the infan.
rSmcn' making sure tina; they all were
cohtented and had no cause for com
plant.
similar inspection trips VIII be made
run 'ihe 10 time by Genera! Pershins.
as the general is determined that the
american soldiers at ali times shall
nave the maximum of protection under
The best conditions nnssihls