Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-26
Americans, in Raid With French, Capture p Huns
PERSHING FORCES
OFFICERS TO CARE
FOR THEIR MEN
Commanders Iron Discipline
Assures Welfare of Soldiers
in Ranks = Correspondent
Describes Generals Methods

IN hanks - Correspondent
Describes Generals Methods
Tie FIRST Of Series of Six Articles About
the Commander of Our Forces in France.
BY C. C. LYON
with General Pershing,s Army
| Copyright, 1918, by the Newspaper Enterprise
Association
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Feb. 25.-General John J.
Pershing is commander-in-chief of all
the American forces in France
His military word is law Not since
the Civil war days of Grant has such
unlimited power been placed in the
| hands of any one leader.
| What sort of man is this General
Pershing? What Of his military meth
DDS? How does he treat his officers
| and men? Is he going to make good
or is he going to fall down on his big
| job over here?
| Undoubtedly, there must be, in Amer
! lea, an intense interest in the man
who is to lead into battle some two
millions of the pick of our manhood
came to France with the first con-
| dngent of American troops last June
and 1 nave been with them ever since
I'm beginning to feel that I know the
real conditions in our army over here.
| From American parents I've had at
least a dozen letters that have dealt
with General Pershing. One from
widowed mother that came only the
other day is typical
My only boy is a private in the
ranks under General Pershing," she
wrote II worry about my son day
and night because he is so young-he's
| only eighteen-and 1 know so little
| about General Pershing
rs the general good to my boy and
| the thousands of other BOYS whose
lives and comforts are in his care? Is
he the type OF general who will not
| risk their lives unless objects of real
military Importance are to be attain
ed?"
For the benefit of this mother and
all other Americans who are interested
I'm going to draw, as best 1 can,
] picture Of the real Pershing
Possibly my picture won't satisfy the
genera! himself or some of his most
ardent admirers, but above everything
else, I'm going to strive after the
| truth.
Six months ago. 1 must confess.
wasn't very enthusiastic about General
Pershing. I thought he was too stern
that his discipline was tinged with
! too much iron.
Another correspondent and myself.
one day. had followed the general on
an inspection tour of a certain di-
vision.
Absolutely nothing escaped the gen.
erals searching eyes; and every time
ne discovered a shortcominE he de-
manded, right on the spot, to know
the why of it,
Scores of officers that day sweat
blood as result Of the generals
thoroughness.
For example, in one place he found
the living quarters of some enlisted
men very dirty
h He called for their officer.
The latter came and saluted His
leather boots were polished until you
could see your reflection in them His
clothes-were pressed in exactly the right
places. He'd even polished his finger
nails for the generals visit.
In language that was exceedingly
forceful, General Pershing called the at
tention of this officer to the dirty bill
lets and to the unkempt appearance of
the men.
You must get it into your head az
the very start" the general concluded,
/ that this is no picnic we've come over
here to attend. You've got to see that
the living quarters of your men are kept
as clean and sanitary as your own. Get
on the job. Quit thinking about your
self and think of the men under you
and of the work you have ahead"
After a whole day with the general,
my fellow correspondent said to me:
IF the general keeps up this sort of
thing everybody will come to hate him
I'm heartsick for the poor fellows ne
has 'bawled out today"
That was six months ago. But the
other day this same correspondent said:
Did you ever in your life see such
quick Improvement in an army? / tell
you this man Pershing is cor6er. He
certainly knows his business. All the /
fellows who came over here expecting /
to have a lark and to swank around IN /
society are getting the gate If l were /
he / wouldn't be so lenient with them" /
Yes" l observed, land if my boy was
old enough to be a soldier you can bet I
your last dollar I'd want him under /
q man like Pershing. I'd know then /
that if he didn't have good food and /
serviceable clothing and just treatment I
from his officers there'd be hell to pay! /
"T'll admit that General Pershing .
wouldn't be likely to appear suddenly /
along the road. pat him on the back ,
i'm fatherly fashion and ask him if he ?
felt cold without an Overcoat or with (
as toes sticking out of his shoes No ,
lle general "Ouiu NC IOO oGoE JAN IL /
general headquarters with the officers /
responsible for the OvercOat and shoe /
shortage. He's deadly. competent .
guy"
So I myself have changed my mind 4
bout General Pershing. I'm firmly con-
yinced that mushy sentimentality has
no place in a big army.
What the men want is fair treatment, /
GOOD food and equipment, exact justice 4
and a radiance of all incompetent Off /
GERS.
All this General Pershing is giving /
hem.