Evening star., 1919-03-15
REV|EWSU. s. BOYS
ON GERMAN SOIL
Gen. Pershing |nspects
Troops at CobIenz and Be-
slows Service Decorations.
TALKS TO THE DoUGHB0YS

By the Associated Press.
COBLENZ, Friday, March 14.-Gen.
John ]. Pershing, who is inspecting
the fighting divisions Of the American
army Of occupation, had his first sight
this morning of American troops IN
combat formation on German soil.
On a six-hundred-acre plateau on the
east bank OF the Rhine, overlooking
CobIenz and the winding river, he in
spected the I'd Division and presented
more than eighty decorations. He
later reviewed the division. which
passed before him in massed forma-
tion, the marching time of the $4,000
men being about twenty minutes.
Mounted on a dappled gray cavalry
horse. which was presented to Brig.
Gen. John l.. Hines. commander OF the
Sd Army Corps by the British mission,
trains ammunition units and motor
lied artillery and then passed on to
the infantry.
Devotes an Hour to Inspection.
The commander in chief in this part
Of the program walked along the lines
of soldiers, devoting more than an
hour to the work. He questioned CONF
pany commanders as to their quarters
and in reference to conditions gem
orally. He talked to scores of dough-
boys who wore wound stripes. in-
curing il they had fully recovered.
and asking others If they wanted to
go home. Without exception. they
were eager to return to America as
soon as possible for family and busi-
ness reasons, but all were perfectly
fhav said long Al
it is necessary for the United States
to keep an army in Europe. In reply
to a query as to whether he was will
ing to stay over here, one soldier re-
piled:
states, but want to stay here as long
as the government needs me-"
Sergeant Among Those Honored.
At the head of the line of those re-
ceiving decorations, and for the mo-
ment outrankfng two generals. was
Sergt. Louis Van Israel of Newark, N.
j., whose mother is living in Holland.
He was given the congressional med
| al of honor.
During the battle Of the Argonne he
crossed the Meuse, fell into a German
| trap, escaped and again crossed the
river with valuable information as to
F., the enemys forces.
| Mai. Gen. John A. LIE Jeune, COM
| mander Of the I'd Division, was given
the distinguished service medal and
received the insignia of commander Of
the French Legion of Honor.
Brig. Gen. w. c. Neville. commander
| of the marine brigade at Belleau
guished service medal Seventy-eight
soldiers received distinguished serv-
! ice crosses.
AS a surprise Gen. Pershing brought
with him a congressional medal OF
honor for Private John J. Kelly Of
Chicago, I'LL. 9Th Marines. as a reward
for attacking a machine gun nest on
Blanc Mont ridge, in the Champagne.
Kelly, however. was on outpost duty
and was unable to be present.
! The plateau where the review took
place was used for years by tho Sth
German Army Corps for the same
This afternoon Cen. Pershing In
spected and reviewed the 1st Divi-
sion. which he helped to organize In
Washington, for service IN France.
The review, took place at Montabauer.
the headquarters OF the LIST Division.
and in addition to Visiting the troops
the commander-in-chief presented a
number OF decorations, among them
being a distinguished service medal
| for Brig. Gen. J. D. McLachlan, tho
commander Of the division.
Recounts Deeds Of Valor.
After tho review tho commissioned
and non-commissioned officers assem-
bled In tho center Of tho field and
heard Gen. Pershing ten of the part
he took IN tho formation OF the divi-
| sion and recount some of the fine
performances of its men :ring the
| war. The general reminded the men
that when they returned home they
| would receive especial attention for
their gallantry in France, and ex-
pressed the desire that they should
uphold their fine, clean records as
soldiers when they become civilians. "
He spoke cf the entry of America into
the war a nd the effort exerted in Sc
curing tho peace which is now being
dictated by tho allies. adding that
American troops have won the re-