The Ely miner., 1931-07-10
CHAPTER xxx-continued.


tillery attack on the fourth and
trench mortar platoon had been almos
completely destroyed. The Frenc
army commander congratulated Ger
eral Menoher on the way in which on
troops repulsed this raid. After ar In
spection of the different regiments o
the division and visit to the seen
of this action, | went to the hospital t
see the wounded.
They were all very cheerful, espe
cially a young officer. Lieut.. A. "
Terrell. Fifty-first artillery regimen
who had lost leg. He said that h
wanted TO stay through to the end o
the war. and hoped he could fin
something to do as a clerk. All thes
first contacts with the enemy were re
atively small affairs, of course, bu
they furnished many examples of wha
we could expect of the American so
der:
My diary notes this:
Paris. Sunday, March 10. 191S.-
Spent Thursday morning with
Herman. Langfitt and Atterbury
and made adjustments In port and
railway construction and manage
ment. Visited Camp de Mailly,
where seacOast artillery is having
splendid training under General
Coe
On Friday visited Edwards
Twenty-siXth division serving on
Chemin des Danes under General
Maud'huy. the French corps COM
mander. Arrived in Paris late at
night during airplane attack.
Branch Of judge advocate gen.
erals Office established at my
headquarters.
Upon Colonel Bradley's report
of thirty-day medical supplies on
hand, sent urgent cable requesting
immediate shipments. Cabled dis
approval of suggestion by Mr..
Paderewski for organization of di-
vision of men with Polish ante
cedents. Secretary Of War Baker
landed at Brest today.
French Train U. S. Cooks.
Major General Maud'huy spoke
with considerable enthusiasm of
the men and of the officers of the
Twenty-sixth division, below regi-
mental commanders, and especial
ly praised their conduct of trench
raids. He complimented General
Traub, one of the brigade COM
manders, but was of the opinion
needed more experience to make
them efficient. American troops
that served with General Maud'huy
held him in high esteem. He was
scrupulous regarding their instruc-
ton, to which he gave special at
tention.
He was very solicitous of the
welfare of our troops, even going
so far as to interest himself in the
preparation of their food by de-
failing French cooks to teach ours
the art. When expressed my ap-
probation of his action, he said:
'You know, we are a nation of
cooks and we delight in prepar-
ing good things to eat" After
their instruction the cooks in these
units did better, thanks to the
initiative of this fine old French
general.
Many of the cooks of the old arm
became experts and the men in earl
days in the West Jared better as a rul
than our men in France, where tn
cooks lacked experience. Persona
supervision by officers and the estat
lishment of cooking schools brough
Improvement in due course. However
there is little doubt that much of tn
intestinal trouble in our divisions dur
ing the early part of their servic
abroad was caused by poorly cooke
food.
Secretary Baker Arrives.
Secretary Baker arrived at Bres
March 10, as my diary showed. and
met him and his party in Paris tn
next morning. The secretary's part
consisted of Maj. Gen. w. M. Black
chief of engineers; Lieut.. Col. NJ.
Brett, Commander r. d. White of tn
navy, and Ralph Hayes, his secretary
1t was essential that the secretar
receive every opportunity to inspec
our whole layout, from the front area
to the services of supply. that he Nigh
become familiar with plans, observ
the progress made toward their CON
pletion, and obtain first-hand informa
tiOn of our requirements, all of whic
he was especially anxious to do. Leay
ing Paris March II we inspected ou
most important ports, depots, hos
pitfalls, regulating stations, motor park
and schools, and returned March II t
my headquarters at ChaumOnt.
The main air service school at Is
soudun, which we visited. was hiv
of activity, being one of the fiftee
schools where early instruction in fly
ing was given. General Foulois an
Colonel Kilner went with us throug
the school, the shops and the Re
Cross and "Y" buildings. l think tn
secretary was surprised to see her
the really expert flying considered nee
essary to prepare aviators for thei
hazardous life at the front.
Moving Supplies to Troops.
At Gievres. about 125 miles directl
south of Paris, on our main line O
supply, running to the front, were 20
600 men employed under Col. Charlie
J. Symmonds, managing our largest ir
terror depot.
To illustrate the celebrity with whic
the system operated we need take bu
one example, which occurred whe
everything in the depot was in ful
swing.
At S:15 one morning in August