The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-22

nate oration of Speaker Gillette he was observed occasionally to smile. He was amused at theshomely humor natural eloquence.
 The reply of General Pershing con sisted of a mass of words in which he endeavored to leave the impression that others than he had done some thing across the waters. He was es- pecially high in his praise of the doughboys. He spoke complimentary of the navy and pictured the trials or the powers with which the United States was associated He carefully refrained from speaking of himself, and by indirect language, for what, ever he might have achieved. credited President Wilson. Secretary Baker and the Congress.
 General Pershing was most careful to say nothing which might be con- strued as having bearing on the big questions before Congress. He spoke in compliment of the system of con- scription which was adopted in the beginning of the war But of no other topic did he intimate an opinion. He lodged the league of nations and all phases of the problem of how best to prepare and shape the regular army for it's service in time of peace. The unauthorized publication in the Wash
 ngton Post of some days previors, that in which he was represented as being opposed to the league of ua- tions, and as being certain that the United States in a short while would be at war with Mexico and Japan--a publicat tion which unquestionably en- barrassed the generaf-had apparent ly served as a warning. He fought shy of everything.
 General PerShing was patentlv re- lieyed when, the ceremonies concluded, he was guided to the press gallery. There he shook off all 1ormality and reservation He smiled in natural manner when the correspondents pressed around him and cheered him heartily. He was perfectly at ease and at home as he shook the hand of every man presented by the superintendent , of the galleries, James D. Preston. When the correspondents asked him % make them speech. he raised his hands and shook his head as if to say:
 "We have just had enough of that sort of entertainment So he was not
 pressed.
 The correspondents followed the
 general from the capitol to the plaza. where occurred one of the interesting events of the day. As the general emerged into the open he found him. self surrounded by women of all ages and kindreds. They applauded and the general. raising his hat, made obvious haste to his automobile. But the wo- men. not to be outdone, followed with equal speed. By the time Pershing had seated himself they had complete ly surrounded the car. Out of their confused chatter, the general caught their petition that he shake hands with them. The first woman to grasp his hand pressed it for moment, shook it namely and then clung to 1t. This set the fashion. and it began to appear that the formalities would neve, be concluded. Finally the gen. eral smiling amiabiy but speakinT Y firmly, observed. Please do not hold my hand so long"
 This admontion was quite effective. The correspondents smiled. but the women did not-neither did the gen. eral.
 As previously pointed out in this correspondence, General Pershing will l be required, through the force of cir cums stances, to state his opinion on all momentous problems pending before Congress. He has been invited to ap- pear before a joint session of the House and Senate committees on miii- l tary affairs "at such time as his con venience will be suited" Representa tive Kahn of California. chairman ot