Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-02-23
Commander of the United States
Forces Visits First Trenches
in France.
READS REGIMENTAL ORDERS
American Leader Spends TWO Days
Watching and Questioning Private
Soldiers and Gunners-Cook
Only One Not Satisfied.

FEB. 19.-Geperal PerShing has COM
pleted a two days inspection of the
American sector northwest of Toul. In
a Tin hat" with a gas mask swung
over his chest at tt , alert position the
American commander in. chief walked
through all the first line trenches,
splashing through the mud and slip
ping on the ice. He dropped down in
to the dugOuts and visited batteries
busy hurting iron rations" at the en-
envy.
In all places the general asked in
Vulnerable questions, especially of the
men, with regard to food, how they
were and how they liked conditions.
All but the Cook Satisfied.
All except one cook agreed that they
were perfectly satisfied with every
thing. To the cook General Pershing
said:
you are getting enough to eat?"
mo, sir" the cook replied.
"What?" asked the general. "You
the cook and do not get sufficient food7
l never heard of a cook in such a con-
dition before"
"Well, sir, 1 did not mean that ex-
actly. | mean not enough variety"
General Pershing asked what he had
had for dinner today. The cook re-
piled that he had roast beef, potatoes,
onions, white bread, coffee and rice
pudding.
'"That seems like a considerable va
riety," remarked the general. "What
else do you want?"
well, L would like to have some
green stuff, sir"
General Pershing then turned to
long line of soldiers with mess kits in
their hands and asked:
do you men get enough to eat out
hereY
The line saluted briskly and almost
in chorus came the reply:
eyes, sir"
The general next appeared in regi-
mental headquarters in a dugout in a
town which has been riddled by shells.
The colonel was not there at the time
and the commander In chief called for
all trench and other orders and all pa
pers. He sat down and read through
everyone of them.
In the dugouts General Pershing sug-
gested some few changes here and
there and in the trenches he also oil.
rected that some small changes be
made.
From a well situated poll t through
glasses General Pershing inspected
Mont Sec and the German observation
posts on top of it, from which the en-
envy has the American lines under OBJ.
servation for twenty miles when the
visibility is good. Because of the haze
the general was unable to see the
spires Of Metz, which are visible on
clear days from a certain place.
General Visits Artillery Also.
Throughout the inspection tour Gen.
eral Pershng limped a little, his ankle
having been injured slightly few days
ago. AT the batteries the general ask
ed the artillerymen the same questions
as he put to the infantrymen. making
sure that they all were contented and
had no cause for complaint.
Americans Extend Lines.
AS the time for more active military
operations on the western front ap-
proaches, the American expedltionary
force is wider&ag its sphere of activ.
ity along the front lines. Not only do
American soldiers hold a sector of the
front east of st. Mihiel, but American
artillery is helping the French In
Champagne and infantrymen in COM
pany with French units are holding the
front lines in one of the most famous
battle fronts in the world.
1t is not disclosed where this front
Is, but 1t is described as being place
where ruined villages and devastated
country tell of hard fought battles in
which the Germans pushed forward
| only to be driven back later by the
French. The Americans are well
equipped to deal with the enemy and
their officers with difficulty restrain
them from attacking the Germans at
every opportur 'ty.
U. S. Guns Bring Down Flyer.
The Germans again dropped bombs
near the place where the American
field hospital was. apparently not
knowing it had been moved. No dam
age was done.
Today planes we're extremely active
over our lines. One German machine
was shot down.
The artillery was more active on
| both sides.
Six of our men were wounded when
shell dropped into ''cook tent" A
number of others were hit by shrapnel
/ fragments in their trenches. while 9th
ers were wounded when a town just
/ behind our line was again subjected
! to Smelling.