Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-07
PERSH|NG LEADS
BUSY But SIMPLE
LIFE OVERSEAS
Little Ceremony or 0Stenta-
ton at His Headquarters
or His Chateau---IS Great
Walker

CHAUMONT, HAUTE MARINE,
France, Nov. 23.--(Correspondencc
of the Associated Press ---When he
is here at general headquarters, Gen
eral Pershing leads a very busy but
very simple life. There is little GER
emory Of an ostentatious kind, either
at his chateau or around his offices.
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 visitor walks unaunounced into
the adjoining reception room to be
received by one of his staff.
General Pershing's trips to and
from his chateau in the country are
made in his motor car, distinguished
only by it's red four starred insignia
be the number plate, which slips un-
noticed along the road and through
the city. Ordinarily he is accompa-
MED only by his personal aide, 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 outskirts of Chaumont to his
country home, and that, with quiet
horseback rides through the beau
tiful country hereabouts, gave him
his needed exercise.
Much of his time since last spring,
when the American forces began
real participation in strength in the
fighting, has been spent at advanced
army headquarters. These have been
at various places, sometimes at q
distance = to entail long, hard auto
mobile rides, from them to Chaumont
when circumstances demanded his
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 pow
erful closed car, with double rear
speed. and in its comfortable cush-
ions he obtains the rest denied him
in bed.
Life at General Pershing's chateau
is plain to the point of simplicity.
and it's picturesque setting in the
valley of the Marine, it might be the
home life of any fairly well to do
American business man. Only uni
forms of his military household set
it apart. His personal staff lives
gro soldiers detailed. And they are
good cooks, as his few guests can
testify, placing on his table simple,
well-cooked American dishes, usu-
ally three, or at most four courses,
including coffee and cheese and
served American style.
No sentries are in evidence, moth
! ing to mark the chateau as the res
iClence of the commander in chief.
The visitors car drives through q
plain. unguarded gateway in a close
" set grove, along curving road.
way for a few hundred yards, and
then only is had the first glimpse
of the old castle, lying in it's parks
and lawns, bordered on one side by
a long, sweeping curve of the River
bank with tall poplars. set equidis-
tant, and lending an added touch Of
formality to the always formal
French landscape.
Often General Pershing, himself,
rises from a seat on the terrace to
greet a guest and, If not, one of
his staff. The meal is very infor-
NAL, conversation being general and
the commander in chief apparently
does not like to linger at the table.
big lounge room or 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
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
"Reminiscences to recall, some incident
Of the Philippines or of Mexico or
of 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 acnnaintanCeS.