Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-15
Commander Of Armies in
Europe Makes Trip
OF Inspection.
TALKS WITH MANY
SCARED BY WOUNDS


[By the Associated Press.1
Coblens, March 14-deneral John j.
Pershins. who II Inspecting the nsht-
ing divisions Of the American army Of
occupation, had his first sight this
! morning Of American troops in combat
formation on German soil
On . S08-acre plateau on the east
banks Of the Rhine, overlooking Cob
lenz and the winding river, he inspect
ed the Second division and presented
over eighty decorations. He later re-
viewed the division. which passed be-
fore him, the marching time OF $4,000
men being about twenty minutes.
Mounted on dappls gray cavalry
horse, which wan presented Brig. Gen.
John L. Helms, commander OF the Third
army corps, 3y the British mission.
General Persh!as inspected tho supply
trains, ammunition units and motor
lied artillery, and then passed on to
the infantry.
TaIks With Doushbeys.
The commander-in-chie in this part
OF the program, walked along tho lines
OF soldiers, devoting moro than an hour
to the work. He questioned company
COlnIuAnQSIU ~ W ShCAi 4doA SoA0 0AAS>'
in reference to conditions generally.
He talked to scores OF doushboys
who wore wound stripes. inauirins II
they had fully recovered, and asking
others II they wanted tv 60 home.
Without exception they were eager 70
return to America as soon a. possible
for family and business rsaSonA but
ali were willing, they said, to serve Is
llone a. It Ii necessary for the United
States TO keep IN army In Europe.
In reply 70 q query ~ to whether
he was willing to stay over here one
soldier replied: II have . Job waiting
for me in the states. but Iwant to stAy
here as long as the government needs
me"
Decorations esste~sd.
Al the head of the line those re-
ceiying decorations and for the moment
outranking two generals. was Ser
gcant Louis Van Israel. Of Newark, n.
~. whose mother IL living in Holland.
He was given the congressional
medal of honor. During the battle OF
the Argonne he crossed the Meuse.
fell into Z German trap. escaped and
again crossed the river with valuable
information as to tho enemy's forces.
Mai. Gen. John A. LeJuenne, COM
mander Of the Second division. was
given the distinguished service medal
and received the insignia Of COM
mander Of the French Lesion-of Honor.
Brig. Gen. w. C. Neville. copmander
of the marine brigade at Belleau wood
was decorated with the distinguished
service medal Seventy eight soldiers
.sr> a A,~<S, ~,,lsbAd nnvSyfro rross~a
AS 4 surprise General Pershing
brought with him q congressional
medal OF honor for Private John j.
Kelly. Of Chicago. Sixth marines. as
reward for attacking a machine gun
nest on Blanc Mont ridge in the Cham
payne. Kelly. however, was on out
post duty and was unable to be pres
ent.
The plateau where the review took
place was used for years by the Eighth
German army corps for the same pur-
pose.
Rsvisws old Division.
,s This afternoon General Pershing in
spected and reviewed the first division,
which he helped to organize In Wash
ington for service in France. The re-
view took place at Montabauer, the
headquarters Of the First division, and
In addition to visiting the troops the
chief presented IN NUM-
Der Of decorations. among them D.,ns
q distinguished service medal for Brig.
Gen. A. J. McIAchlin, the commander
of the division.
After tho review the commissioned
and non commissioned officers as
senlbled IN the center Of the field and
heard General Pershing tell OF the part
he took IN the formation Of the dvl-
sion and recount some Of the fIne per-
formahcAs Of its men during the war.
The general reminded the men that
when they returned nome tney would
receive special ats: ttttsss.:c: @c- ...e!- GAL
lantry IN France and expressed the
desire that they should uphold their
fine clean records as soldiers when they
became civilians" He spoke Of the
entry Of America into The war and
tho effort exerted In securing the pcacs
which Is now bnng dictated by the
allies. adding that American troops
have won the esrespect Of, all the allied
armies. III
General Pershing dined with General
Dickmap In Coblenz tonight.
T. \ . =