Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-10
GEN. PERSHINC
WITHOUT POMP
American Commanders Headquar-
tiers in France Are Plain to
Point of Simplicity.

Chaumont, Haute Marine, France
Nov. "a Corresponding of the
Associated Press -When he is here
at general headquarters General
Pershing leads a very busy, but
very simple life There is little
ceremony of an destinations kind
either, at his chateau or around his
offices. There is nothing to dis
tinguish his office rooms in "a
building of the headquarters group
from those of any other officer.
One orderly sits at his door, there
is no sentry and the visitor walks
unannounced into the adjoining re-
ception room to be received by one
of his staff.
General Pershing's trips to and
from mis- chateau in the country are
made in his motor car, distinguish
ed only by it's red four starred in
sigma on the windshield and where
would be the number plate, which
slips unnoticed along the road and
through the city. Ordinarily he is
accompanied only by his personal
aide, his staff following at a dis
lance great enough not to mark
the big cars as one squadron.
In fine weather he sometimes
walked the two or three miles
from the outskirts Of Chaumont to
his country home. and that. with
quiet horseback rides through the
beautiful country hereabouts, gave
him his needed exercise.
Much Of his time since last
spring when the American forces
began real participation in strength
IN thc fighting, has been spent at
advanced army headquarters.
u hese have been at Various places,
sometimes nj a distance to entail
long. lard automobile rides from
them to tlalMunt when circum-
atance5 demanded his presence
here. Often after q hard day at
advanced headquarters the general
las made The three of fOur-hOuT
drive late ST night, only 10 depart
carly the next day. His powerful
closed car y,t-h double rear wheels
usually traveIs at high speed and
n its comfortable cushions he OBJ
tains the rest denied him in bed.
Life at General Pershing's cha
teau is PLAIN 10 the point Of sim
plicity. Except Tor the beautiful
CID castle and It's picturesque SET
ting in the valley of the Marine, it
might be the home life Of any fair
.ly well to do American business
lnau Only uniforms of his mill
taTy household set it apart. His
personal staff lives with him and
his servants are negro soldiers de-
tailed, And they are good cooks
Is his faw guests can testify. pIac-
ing on his table simple, well cook
cd American dishes, usually three
or at most four courses, including
coffee and cheese and served Am
erican style.
1 No sentries are in evidence, moth
ing to mark the chateau as the res
idence Of the commander in chief.
The visitors car drives through a.
plain, unguarGed gateway. in IA
.cl9f}sa-E- Set. grove, along a CURING
ana then only IS had s~tf1e first
glimpse Of the Old castle. lying in
its parks and lawns bOrdered on
one side by long. sweeping curve
OF the River Mdrne and its canal,
lined on either bank with tall pop
lars set equidistaut and lending an
added touch Of Formally TO the al
ways formal French landscape.
Often General PeTshing, himself.
rises from a seat ca the terrace to
greet a guest and. If not. one Of
his staff The meal is very infoT-
NAL, conversation being general
and the commander in chief appar-
emily does not like to linger at the
table Afterward coffee and>cigars
in the big lounge room or a stroll
under the trees until the general
Indicates that his leisure is ended. |
General Pershing has kept him
self in splendid physical condition
during these trying months. He
is as lean and clear-eyed as he was
when ne came from the Mexican |
campaign, as straight and soldierly /
in bearing as he was in the days of |
his Philippine campaigns when he /
first won notice His eyes still /
twinkle when occasion calls and |
the corners of his mouth still turn /
in the familiar, quickly passing |
smile.
For those he has known in past !
days he always has some mutual !
"reminiscences to recall, some in /
cident of the Philippines of or Mex |
leo or the days when ne was on
duty in Washington. and his hear
ty laugh often sounds through the /
doors Of his office as he chats with |
some old aCquaintauces.
ApTFTGTTrE TERMS