Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-30

directly to several of the gun positions.
where he commended the crews and
told them how proud he was of them"
| During the fight In the Argonne for
est General Pershing spent nearly two
months in its recesses directing move
ments of troops. His mobile headquar-
! tiers was pulled into the heart of the
forest where It was camOuhaged by
shrubbery. Every night the general
made a visit to the advanced post
commands, which were almost at the
barbed wire entanglements, to see
that his orders were being carried out
The general never took any
chances" the sergeant said, "he al
ways went up to the front to be sure
things were done exactly as be
ordered"
One of the peculiar things sergeant
Santiai noted was that every time he
took General Pershing to Paris the
Germans would start a long range
bOmbardment or send over a flock OF
bombing airplanes. 1t did not seem to
matter what hour of the night or day
they reached the city the lombard
ment would begin directly after their
arrival and invariably continue for
hours. Sergeant Santini is not so sure
that the Germans did not receive in
formation as to when the general was
going to the city, although every effort
was made to keep the movements OF
the commander in chief in the great
est secrecy.
Sergeant Santini probably drove
more historic personages in the time
he was in France than any other
chauffeur in the world can boast of to-
day. He drove President and Mrs. VIII
son on several occasions, President
Poincare Premier Clemenceau, Cen
erals Foch, Haig, Petain and Bliss and
King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of
Belgium. King Albert awarded Ser
geant Santini the gold Medal of Merit
Of the first class.
Fools Newspaper Men.
On the two occasions that Newton
D. Baker, Secretary of War, visited
he battle front in France he rode in
General Pershing's automobile. Ser
yeant Santini tells of many amusing
Incidents and tricks General Pershing
escorted to in an effort to evade news
PAPER men. One of these incidents oc-
'urred during Secretary Bakers first
'isit.
Secretary Baker and General Perish
ng were on their way up to the front
inc, the secretary in one automobile
nd the general in his. There was
core of other automobiles loaded with
ewspaper men in the rear. AS Gen
raj Pershing came up to a turn in the
Dad he leaped out of his automobile
nd into that of Secretary Baker,
either of the machines stopping. The
NO machines then separated and the
ewspaper men took up the trail of
ne generals car.
The automobile General Pershing
sed was equipped with special tanks
lat held fortytwO gallons of gasoline.
as masks and helmets for the occu-
ants of the machine were tied in bag
! the roof in a position where they
,uld be reached easily by the driver
orderly. Inside the machine there
ere always several extra blankets in
e event of an emergency. General
arshing never had occasion to use a
Is mask.
During the time the general was In
'ance he had in all nine different
nds of machines. An automobile was
scarded not because 1t had been
Urn out or failed to function proper
but because Il better model had
en- found. The orderly and driver
rried side arms and rife was
'apped on to one side of the car.
Santini was asked if Gem
al Pershing was IN the habit Of rid
: very fast and he replied that the
neral was sometimes In a hurry"
, admitted, however, that at times
had exceeded seventy-fiye miles an
ur. His orders were to Ego as fast
you can. but take no chances with
general" Sergeant Santini is satis-
! he carried out those orders TO tho
st of his ability.
When General Pershlng moved frora
ce to place his "war car" Travelled
h him in his mobile headquarters.
train which the French people are
y suggesting as a gift to the Amer
II people as permanent war relic.