Evening star., 1928-04-22
Pershing's Charger.

The limousine used by Gen. Pershing
in France as his official automobile dur
] ing the World War should be placed in
the Smithsonian Institution, according
to a suggestion from the Secretary of
War, Ths' is a happy idea. Some of
the chargers of great military leaders
have won enduring fame None is more
deserving of honorable perpetuity than
PerShing's car. One reason alone
should suffice: 1t had so many chauf-
feurs. In less than a decade there has
arisen a great host Of men who claim
to have driven Pershing's car How
many will there be in 1850? Like the
"Colonels" and the Generals" Of the
war between the States. they have in
creased in number with each succeed
ing wear Within a short time their
children, their grandchildren and their
grest-grandchildren will form a re-
spectacle portion of the Nations pop
ulation. They will all want to come to
Washington to see the car the old man
said he drove mid shot and shell
and over the barbed wire entangle-
ments of the Hindenburg line, while
Gen. PeIshing bounced in the rear seat
There were few who served in France
without getting at least a glimpse of
"PershingS car" The memory of some
will be associated with the recollection
Of their division, drawn up for review
IN pasture, shadowlike in the chill
nnists of early dawn. An endless wait,
but down the road at last appears
cayalcade OF swiftly moving automo-
biles. "Pershing's car" stands out from
all the rest, by reason Of its size and
the red flag with four stars that flies
conmandingly from the radiator cap.
The silvery tones of many bugles
sounding Attention." drift over the
fleld, but from the corners Of $4,000
eyes. supposed to be looking straight
to the front. quick picture is caught
and held of the highly dramatic and
colorful business Of helping a COM
mander-in- chief out of his car. If the
review was held before the armistice
the general was dark and stern and
more than one doughboy felt the rapier
Of his glance. If it was after the
armislice the general was Suave and
smiling. and more than cne doughhoy
rushed letter home to tell mother
that Pershing stopped and talked to
him.
That car covered many miles In
France and 1t usually went at break
neck speed But one ex-lieutenant tells
the story Of having met it one day ON
a lonely road He was leading a be-
draggled and weary platoon back from
target practice, and without a bit of
warning came on Pershing's car. stand
ing still AS the lieutenant shakily
called his platoon to attention, an aide
leaned out of the car and asked him
how TO reach certain village. To ad-
NIT ignorance might have been fatal
Turn to the right at the next fork.
sir. and keep going" said the lieuten-
ant A pair of chill gray eyes watched
him from the tonneau
The car moved of. So did the
platoon. The platoon moved at double
time. turned of the road apd lost IT.
self in a convenient bit Of woods Tte
car? The lieutenant never knew what
happened 10 1t. lie always hoped that
there was fork in the road. and that
the right fork was the right one. But
he never knew
Others may have had similar ex-
periences with Pershing's car They
viii want to see it parked safely and
for all time In the Smithsonian