The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-09-16
DOUGHBOYS
BEST, SAYS PERSHING
IS.ncst Soldiers i'm the WOrld--Rc-
fuses to Talk On the League
of Nations.

Ill tle "OTlu, anu IL uiuu tdhe tne
Germans long to find it out" declared
General Pershing in an interview
granted newspaper men Monday at
the Waldorf-Astoria.
We boasted a little. probably, of
the peculiar qualities of the Ameri-
can lighting man but his aggressive
ness, initiative and devotion as a
member of the American expedition
ary forces gives us every right to
boast and to be proud of him." the
commander said
81 suppose il is because of the way
the American boy is raised, due to
the fact that he is encouraged to de-
yelop his initiative and that he feels
cat any crisis of his life that he is
master of his own destiny"
The interview. brought about in the
hope that the general might be will
ling to express his views upon such
subjects as the league of nations, the
situation in Europe and in Mexico,
what he inteded doing when he en-
tered civil life, when he expected to
retire from the army, and similar
questions, was preceded by general
handshaking all around and a remark
by General Pershing that all such
topics were taboo"
Il am still on duty" he said 1T
is pleasant duty by very strenuous"
The general had just finished lunch
con after little rest TO refresh him
self rather the arduous hours of the
morning and he said that while he
was glad 10 meet all the newspaper
men he could answer only such ques-
tions as properly came within the
range of his profession.
The question was asked: General.
what do you consider the crowning
achievement of your service abroad? p"
10 which he replied:
Cutting the Germans lines at Sc
dan on November g."
WAS that a more difficult opera
tion than cutting the Hindenburg
line?' he was asked
Cutting the Hindenburg line was
a start toward cutting the line at Sc
dan. 1t was hard to tell what might
have become OF it under different cir,
cumstances. 1t followed the final ef-
fort of the Germans to force their way
through. but their armies were beat
en before they started"
rEanaral will va, ,o,, -
about Marshal Foch?"
Marshal Foch," he replied appre
riatively, SIS very great strategist."
A question was asked as to his i'm
pressions upon his departure for
France p months ago and his return.
10 which he replied:
When We left the day was foggy.
We could not see the statue of lib
erty. There were no bells ringing, no
whistles Except foghorns) blowing.
and no ships gayly dressed. Why
there is as much difference between
our departure and Homecoming as be-
tween midnight and MONDAY.
Il anticipated while on the other
side some kind Of a welcome upon our
return home but nothing | thought
then could equal my impressions t.
day. l find difficulty in expressing my
sentiments, but | suppose it's the way
New York always does things"
Before the general stipulated the
kind of questions he would answer.
some one asked:
What do you think about the
crisis in Europe?" TO which he re-
.sponded:
don't think we had better get
into European affairs at all" AS 10
affairs in Mexico General Pershing
declined to talk, saying he was too
busy overseas to read about il.
In conclusion he was asked whetb-
@r he purposed appearing before the
house military affairs committee in
answer to which he said he had not
been invited. He said he would 20 10
Washington after the parade OF the
first division here on "Wednesday af.
Ter which he intended starting for
Laciede, Mo, his boyhood home, At
o'clock he entered a conference win
Major General McAndrew regardinp
details OF the parade in which he ;e
TO be the principal figure.
GERMAN PEACE TREATY
RFpGRTED TO CEN ,,CY-