Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11

although no denials could separate it
from its association with Pershing.
1t was interesting to watch the
Pershing smile changing and develop
ing with the man and his job in
France In one of his impulses, under
its sunny light, he told all the news
paper men they could go with MIN on
one of his first visits to Gen. Petain.
We only had six cars at headquarters
then. Either the chief of staff would
be left without car or some of the
very numerous band of correspondents
would have to stand on the running
board Of the generals car. Then came
a note from the general to me, as head
of the press division, that no newspaper
man at all was to go. With the candor
of Reserve oficer, which made me
dare to enter where Regulars feared to
tread, went to him candidly:
ITS all right for you to let the news
paper men do something I have re-
fused" said, but when you tell them
they can do something and then send
word to me that they cannot it's going
TO mess things up and incidentally
make a lot of trouble for you in the
trate body to act on the permission
they received personally from the COM
mander in chief"
DID Not Repeat IL.
Eve got it," he said. Il won't do it
again." And he didn't. But some of
his subordinate generals didn't keep
faith the same way.
It was a small incident, but charac-
teristic. The allied statesmen and gen.
erals were also learning the Pershing
represented, they had good reason to
CT until
to a meeting of allied leaders as If its
owner would be agreeable to anything,
but the impulses, before they commit
ted him definitely, reverted to West
Point control and I'm from Missouri"
He would think 1t over, and take his
time, too, while the allies talked of
his procraStination That "thin-lipped
smile" Clemenceau saw as a mask for
Pershing's stubbornneSsl
THE standards for the American
Army viii oe those of West Point" was
lncluSed in che Of his early orders. All
soldiers and officers out of civil life
would be run in the mold for which
he set the example. All must seem an
inch or two taller than they were as
they looked the Germans in the eye,
shoulders back, drawn in at the waist,
discipline, discipline!
Doughboys will be interested to know
that they goJ no rougher bawlings-out
from top sergeants than some officers
had from the commander in chief.
Whew! There was an occasion when
he visited aviation quarters in Paris
A captain passed him in
the entrance without saluting. Pershing
caught him by the shoulders, whirled
him around and said:
Don't you salute your superiors?"
And the inquiry was accompanied BY
sharp, short, biting words and riyet-
ing glance. Thenceforth that captain
must have been on the safe side by sa-
luting all second lieutenants as well as
generals. After the earthquake, flood
and fire passed through the aviation
Offices, all the chiefs, aides and clerks
were standing stiff as Pershing and
gasping for breath.
Pershing could work his way along in
conversational French, but in important
interviews he depended upon an inter
prefer II he understood what was being
said. that gave the I'm from Missouri
canniness time to think over his replies,
Or frame further questions.
COrrects Interpreter.
I remember when he and Petain were
watching the lst Division during battle
portance of the rife in an offensive
army, remarked They say that French
soldiers are so habituated to the use of
trench grenades that they've been known
not To fire their rifles at Germans so
Or so yards away in the Open"
He says" translated the interpreter.
NO" put in Pershing, Il said on dit
not ii dit"
Memories of him center in many in
cidents in the old barracks building at
Chaumont which had been turned into
the Offices Of permanent headquarters.
The light from the window Shone into
the faces of those who stood before his
desk, and who were expected to make
what they had to say short and quick"
In the race for promotion after the
Army was formed there was one general
who was particularly ambitious that his
subordinates, as well as he, should get
their share, and also Of any of the deco
rations that were in sight Once, as
this oficer entered, Pershing shot at
him:
Could BE Caustic.
II want TO know how many colonies
and lieutenant colonies I've got to
make in your lot to get this job done
properly. Make up your list at once"
Il was q surprisingly modenete list for
that general If he were meta maker
II nlaFageg PaFghinr'g satire had a cut