New Britain herald., 1918-03-21
BAKER REVIEWS
 FIRST BRIGADE
Continued From First Page).

equipment from trench tools to ex- tra tools steel helmeted, tanned and
 fit. the soldiers stepped swingingly
 through the sticky mud that was al-
 most too much for the mules that drew the one-pounders and the wheeled kitchens.
 Pershiny Compliments Officers.
 It was the first time that an entire
 brigade which had been in action had
 been reviewed and the secretary com-
 plimented the general commanding and the colonels of the various units. When the review was concluded the
 brigade and commissioned officers
 assembled in a semi circle and were
 presented in a body to the war sec retary by General Pershing in brief
 address in which he compllmented
 their record of fitness and efficiency.
 Secretary Baker, with barred head
 in the cold wind, told the officers they
 were typical American soldiers and
 said they were ''The point of the
 wedge of the army which the whole
 American people is driving into the
 ranks of their adversary.'
 The officers formed line and each
 shook hands with the secretary as his
 name was announced. The secretary
 acknowledged each greeting and, as
 some acquaintance approached, he
 added 8 personal word or two General Pershing showed g'ratifica- tion at the splendid condition and ap- pearance of the brigade, and re- marked. These men have been there and know what it is. You can tell that by the way they throw out thelr l chests as they swing by.'
 When the review was over the ! brigade disbanded into units and l marched back to the camps. Secre- 1 tary Baker, General Pershing and his
 staff and the other generals trudged
 down the hill through the mud to the ! waiting motor cars.
 Visits Verdun Region. ! Secretary Bakers day was a full one, as he covered several hundred 1 kilometers in his automobile. Early 1 in the morning he drove to the Ver- l dun region to a spot from which Fort 1 Duamont was visible. He saw the
 activities behind the French lines and
 a long artillery wagon train and 1 marching troops.
 1 On the way he stopped wherever 1 American troops were billeted, the or 1 ganizations turxing out for inspection 1 The soldiers were questioned regarding 1 details of food, billets and equipment l and the secretary often went into the 1 bllets to get a personal impression. | The only complaint registered was 1 about a scant food ration, which was [ found to be due to the temporary 1 change in the stations of the units affected. Once the secretary's party
 met a travelling kitchen. The secre- tary left his automobile and had 8 taste of the soup and food. His com- ment was: Very good"
 During the day Secretary Baker visited the French divisional com mander who complimented the American troops saving he had called the attention of his mon to the expe- ditiOus and snappy way Americans un- loaded and assembled their artillery. Gu Tuesday, finding himself in the vicinity of a certain unit, he sent for a fellow Ohioan, Carlisle Babcock, of Cleveland, a private in the Marine Corps, and a son of a personal friend. After a brief talk, the two were photographed together.
 The visit to Domreny, the home of Jeanne q Arc, was the concluding in cident of the day, Secretary Baker and General Pershing driving to the little village. They inspected the church where the French heroine was baptized and the humble cote where 1 she was born.