The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-04-10
CHAPTER I


On May 3, 1917, four weeks after
the United States had declared war
on Germany, l received the following
telegram from my father-in-law, the
late Senator F. E. Warren, in Wash
ington:
"Wire me today whether and how
much you speak, read and write
French"
AT this time was stationed at Fort
Sam Houston, which adjoins San An
tonic, Texas, and was in command of
the southern department with the rank
of major general. Naturally, Senator
Warren's telegram suggested that l
was to be assigned to some duty in
France, but as no intimation had been
given out regarding the extent of our
active participation in the war;, the
message was somewhat puzzling.
However, telegraphed the follow
ing reply:
Spent several months in France
nineteen-eight studying language.
Spoke quite fiuently; could read and
write well at that time. Can easily
reacquire satisfactory working knowl-
edge"
Quotes Warren's Letter.
My reply, TO be sure, was rather op-
timistic, yet it was comparatively &C
curate and perhaps was justified by
the possibilities to be inferred from
Senator Warren's telegram. A few
days later l received from him the
following letter:
"Dear Jack:
''This is what happened: Last
night, about ten o'clock, the secre-
tary of war rang me up and want
ed to know if | would call in and
see him this morning, and / re-
sponded that i would if / could
reach him at nine o'clock. This
is the first time he has ever asked
me to call for a consultation.
''When | reached him he said In
the most distant and careless way:
oh, by the way, before ! discuss
the matter about which l asked
you to call-do you happen to
know whether Pershing speaks
French? (This is the first time
your name was ever mentioned be-
tween the secretary of war and
me, directly
81 said i was not certain about
that; that / knew he was a lin
guist along the lines of Spanish
and. TO some extent, japanese, and
all of the Philippine dialects Ga
pardOnable eXaggeration by ones
father-in-law)-that perhaps my
wife might know, as she speaks
French a little and reads it
readily.
HE said: We'll, ii is of no spe-
cial consequence, only / happened
to think of il at this moment !
replied: We'll, I'll ask my wife
about it today and see whether
she knows, and will let you know
He then said: If you don't mind,
do So
"And then he proceeded to dis
cuss quite fully some appropria-
ton matters on which l intended
to go to work upon my arrival at
the Capitol.
II hope you will wire me
promptly upon receipt of my tele-
gram so that | may tell the sec
rotary what my wife said about
it CO.
"Affectionately,
IF. E. WARREN"
Shortly after the receipt of the pri-
vate wire and before the above letter
reached me. a telegram dated May 2
came from Mai. Gen. Hugh L Scott,
chief of staff, containing the opening
words. .'For your eye alone" followed
by message in code:
"Under plans under consideration is
one which will require among other
troops our infantry regiments and one
artillery regiment from your depart
ment for service in France If plans
are carried out you will be in CON-
mand. You will be in command of the
entire force. Wire me at once desig.
nation of the regiments selected by
you and their present stations"