Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-28
My Experiences in the World War
Gen. John J. Pershing

In the conditions that confront us; who
Is not inspired and uplifted by the
knowledge that under the leadership OF
our Chief Executive the heart of our
Nation is in this war: who shrinks from
hardship: who does not exert his own
personal influence to encourage his
men, and who fails in the lofty atti-
tude which should characterize the gen.
eral that expects to succeed, should yield
his position to others with more of our
national courage. The consciousness OF
such an attitude should in honor die
tate an application for relief. When
ever the visible effects Of 1t on the COM
mand of such an officer reach me in
future, it will constitute grounds for his
removal without application.
JOHN J. PERSHING."
Nothing more was heard Of the exist
ence Of such sentiments within our
Army, IT, indeed, they had ever found
more than a temporary lodgment in
the minds OF a few naturally timid or
critically inclined souls. The mere sug-
gestion that such views might be held
only made 1t all the more imperative
to emphasize and develop an aggressive
spirit among our troops.
list Division Moves In.
Ny general impression Of the situa-
ton at this time was set forth in a
cable to Washington october 81:
During the past week the water
soaked ground in Flanders and on the
Western front generally has prevented
further development of offensive move
ments. Summing up wastage Of Ger
man Army in this years campaign. q
single offensive, such as the Anglo
French in Flanders, in progress since
July 81, is insufficient materially to
weaken Germany's manpower. Next
year must see two offensiveS, continu-
ously maintained throughout the Sum-
mer, II decisive result is to be obtained
This can only be secured through aid
Of effective United States Army on tl1i:
side. The troops on the West
ern front have been REINFORCED by one
German division from the Russian
AS the training Of the list Division
had now progressed sufficiently. 1t was
put into line in the quiet sector north
east of Luneville, under the supervision
of the French. for actual trench expert
ence. The division was underofficered
and short of horses, clothing and many
other things. especially rolling kitchens
Of which few had only recently beer
received. and trucks. which were Dor
rowed from the French.
My repeated cables, beginning In
july for Winter clothing. had received
scant attention, and with the coming
Of colder weather the shortage became
critical. The initial stock requested was
disallowed, the monthly allotments were
totally inadequate and the depots were
practically empty.
The explanation that came from the
Quartermaster Generals ONCE, that
our requests could not be granted on
account of the needs at home, showed
q total lack Of appreciation of the ne
cessity Of properly clothing the fighting
man actually at the front above all
others. After another urgent appeal, a
partial supply was sent. but we had
succeeded in obtaining q quantity of
clothing. from the British to tide US
over.
Notwithstanding all these handicaps,
the men were highly enthusiastic over
the prospects of this new experience,
and the rest Of US were gratified that
at last we were to be represented on
the front Thirty days were allotted
for this preliminary training, one bat
talon at q time of each regiment oc-
cupying the line for period Of 10 days.
The sector had been inactive and I'M
eventful since the stormy days Of 1914,
when Gen. de Castelnau halted the
German advance on the Grande Cou-
rome de Nancy A few of the French
remained in their homes in advance of
our support positions, while on the Ger
man side people continued to live near
enough to the front lines to be seen go
ing to church on Sundays. This pre-
sented to the men an odd contrast to
the pictures Of war which they had
k1.,t1 fva k,atv ofv1
y
Tomorrow: Pershing visits French
front and tells how Germans defeated
Italians so decisively at Caporetto.
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