New-York tribune., 1919-01-06
Pershins's Duties
Made Daily Life
Busy but Simple
Commander of u. S. Forces
Often Went 10 Front After
Short Rest; Kept Head
quarters Unpretentious

CHAUMONT, Haute Marne. France.
NOV 20 Correspondence Of The Asso-
ciated Press) When he is here at
general headquarters General Pershing
leads busy but simple life There is
little ceremony of an ostentatious kind
either at his chateau or around his Of
ilces. There is nothing to distinguish
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 Wis
lfor walks unannounced into the ad-
Joining reception room to be received
by one Of his staff.
General Pershing's trips to and from
Its chateau in the country are made in
ms motor car. distinguished only by its
red, four starred insignia on the wind
shield and where would be the number
plate which slips unnoticed along the
road and through the city, Ordinarily
ne IS accompanied only by his personal
aid, his staff following at a distance
great enough not to mark the big cars
as one squadron.
In fine weather he sometimes walked
the two or three miles from the out
skirts of Chaumont to his country
home, and that, with quiet horseback
rides through the beautiful country
ava SeD0"'"' gave MN his neeueu eX-
ercise.
Much Of his time since last spring,
when the American forces began real
o8rticlpatlon in strength in the fight
,,hg, mas Teen spent at advanced army
headquarters. These have been at
various places, sometimes at distance
to entail long, hard automobile rides
from them to Chaumont when circum-
stances demanded his presence here.
Often after hard day at advanced
headquarters the general has made the
three or four hour drive late at night,
only to depart early the next day. His
powerful, closed car, with double rear
wheels, usually travels at high speed,
ana m It's comfortable cushions he OBJ
talnS tue rcs5 denied him in bed.
Life at General Pershings chateau
IS plain TO the point of simplicity. Ex-
cept for the beautiful old castle and
Its picturesque setting in the valley
of the Marne, it might be the home
life Of any fairly well-to-do American
business man. Only uniforms of his
military household set it apart. His
personal staff lives with him and his
servants are negro soldiers detailed
And they are good cooks, as his few
guests can testify, placing on his
table simple, well-cooked American
dishes, usually three, or at most four,
courses, including coffee and cheese
and served American style
NO sentries are III evidence nothing
to mark the chateau as the residence
OF the commander in chief The visi-
tors car drives through plain un-
guarded gateway in closely set grove,
along curving roadway for a few
hundred yards, and then only is had
the first glimpse of the old castle. lying
III its parks and lawns bordercd on
one side by a long, sweeping curve of
the River Marine and it's canal, lined
on either bank with tall poplars set
equidistant and lending an added touch
Of formality to the always formal
French landscape
Often General Pershing himself
rises from q seat on the terrace to
greet guest and, if not, one of his
staff. The meal is very informal, con-
versation being general, and the COM
mander in chief apparently does not
like to linger at table. Afterward
there are 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 himself
ln splendid physical condition during
these trying months He is as lean
ard clear-eyed as he was when he 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 reminis-
conce to recall, some incident Of the
Philippines or Of Mexico or the days
when he was on duty in Washington,
and his hearty laugh often sounds
through the doors of his Office as he
chats with some old acquaintances.