Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-31
NEGRO COOKS SERVE
PERSH|NG IN FRANCE
Men Detailed From Ranks Impei
Even French Guests Praise
on American Cuisine.

Chanmont, Haute Marine, France. Dec.
II. e correspondence OF the Associated
Press When he IS here at General
Headquarters General Pershing leads n
vary busy but very simple life There
ls little ceremony nf an ostentatious kind
either nj his chateau or around hiq offices
There Is nothlrg 10 distinguish his oflic,,
rooms IN a building Of the headquarters
group from those of any other officer
One ORDERLY sits nj his door. there Is no
sentry and the vls.tor walks nuounccd
INTO the adjoining reception roon to he
received p, one of his staG
General pershnp's trips - and from
his chateau N The country arr made II
hts motor eai. distinguished only hy
lts red tour starred lnslgniq on The wind
shield and WHORE would - the number
plate. whrh slips nnnoticcd along fhc
road and through the city Ordinarily
he IL accompanied only hv hls personal
aide, his staff following At a distance
great enough not 10 mark the ing cars
as ore squadron
in fine weather he sometimes walked
the two or three mics from the mt
skirts of Chaumont 10 hl- country home,
and that, with quiet horseback rides
through the beautiful tnIntr, hcrraIoIts
gave hlm his needed exercisc
Much Of hla time since 4~t spring
when The iinerican forces lcEan rral
participation IN strength IN the fighting,
has been spent 1t Advanced Army Head
quarters These have heen 1T various
places, sometimes ~ distance To entail
long. hPtd automobile rides from them to
Chaumout when circumstances demanded
his presence herc often after Il nard
day NJ Advanced Eicadquarttrs the Cen
oral has made the three or fouI hour
drive late al Dight, only 20 depart early
the next day Ills poHerful closed "ar
with iouhie rear Wheels usually travels
II high speed and IN its comfortable
cushions he obtains the rcst denied hln
= ted
lite at General rorshlags chateau IS
pain 10 the point Il simplicity Except
lor the heaufifu! old castle and its pictlr-
esque setting In the Valley OF the Marne,
It might be the home life OF any fairly
we'll Ia do American business man
Only uniforms Of his military household
set II apart Ills personal staff lives with
him and MS servants arc Negro soldiers
detailed And they arc good cooks Is
hls few guests can testify. placing on his
table -lH4TIc, we'll 1ooked American
dIshcS, l.>ualIy three or at most four
courses Including coffee and cheese and
served Arpencan style.
No ~eutre~ are III evidence nothing
u marh the Chateau rs the residence
Of the commander in Chef The visitor :
car drlyes through . PLAIN unggarded
gateway n a closely set grove along a
curying roadway fer few hundred
Fards and then only Is had the flrst
glimpse Of the old castle, lylng III its
Il.
by a long, sweeping curve OF the River
Marine and It's canal lined on either
bank with tall popiars set cquldistant
and lending an added touch of tormalIty
10 the always formal French landscape
Often General Pcrshing. himself, rises
from . seat on the terrace 10 greet Il guest
and II not. one OF his staff The meal
Is very informal conversation being gen
cral aud the Commander hief APP
parcntly does not like to lnger at table
AftcrWard coffee and cigars in the big
lounge room or q stroll under the trees
until the General indicates that his
leisure IS ended
General Perslne has kept himself IN
splendid physical condition durag thtSe
trying months He Is ~ lean and clear
eyed Is he Was when he eame from the
Mexican campaign as straight aud
solderly III bearing a. hc Was III the days
Of bis Philippine campaigns when he
hrst won notice lis eyes still twinkle
when occasion calls and the corners of
lIi- mouth still turn in the familiar.
quickly passing smile
foi tho>c he ha, known III past elavs
hc always has some mutual "reminiscences
to recall some incident af the Philippines
OF d AlrAico ur the DAYS when liz was
on duty III Washington and hls hearty
Iauef often sounds through tht. doors
d Ia, Office .. hc chats with -ome old