The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-27
INSPECTS
FRENCH TROOPS
President Rides Past Sol
diers in CasabIanca in
Jeep; Visits Cemetery
BY WALTER LOGAN
UNITED Press STAFF COrresnOndentl


Casablanca, Jan. 24.-(Delayed-
(UP)-American troops in French
Morocco lined UP today expected to
be inspected by "just another bunch
Of brass hats" when to their amaze
ment they were reviewed by the
President Of the United States.
Mr.. Roosevelt rode past the SOL
oilers In a jeep, ate field lunch and
drove 108 miles north to visit Port
Lyautey, scene Of the hardest fight
ing in the North African campaign,
and to lay q wreath at an American
cemetery near the 400-year-old
fortress Of Kasbah Mehdia.
The presidential convoy formed at
$3.50. a. m. It skirted the city of
Casablanca and drove directly to
the review area, several miles to
the north. Mr.. Roosevelt rode in the
official limousine of Lieut.. Gen.
Dwight d. Eisenhower and was es-
corted by other limousines, armored
scout cars carrying 50-caliber ma
chine guns and weapon carriers with
the photographers corps. There
were about 20 cars in the convoy.
Az NIONG PnSV VIC GIL pOAV WAACLC
scores Of planes took of, forming a
vast umbrella that protected the
President all day.
The morning was chilly and some
what cloudy. Mr.. Roosevelt wore a
gray felt hat, gray suit with white
pin-stripes and q white pull-over
sweater.
The convoy speeded through the
winding hill roads on which SOL
diers, not knowing who they were
guarding, were stationed at regular
intervals, guarding every inch Of
the road with pistols and tommy
guns.
Reaching the review area, where
the troops we're lined up for at least
a mile in front of their tanks, half
tracks, scout-cars and cannons of
all sizes, Mr.. Roosevelt left the
limousine and entered jeep.
The jeep, driven by Staff Sergt.
Oran Lass Of Kansas City, Mo-,
drove slowly In front OF the SOL
diers after a band played the Star
Spangled Banner.
Riding with Mr.. Roosevelt with
Lieut.. Gen. Mark w. Clark, COM
mander OF the American Fifth
Army, Charles Fredericks, the
Presidents personal bodyguard, and
the general officer commanding dur
ing the inspection of troops. I'M
mediately behind the presidential
jeep was another with bodyguards.
The next jeep carried Maj. Gen.
George s. Patton Jr., commander Of
troops in this area, Admiral Ross
McIntire, Mr.. Roosevelt's physician,
and Harry l.. Hopkins. Robert s.
Murphy, American envoy In North
Africa, and lend-lease administra-
tor w. Averell Hartman were in
another car.
The soldiers were unaware OF Mr..
Roosevelt's presence at first. Star
ing straight ahead at attention, they
couldn't not see him until his jeep
passed less than six feet away. Few
were able to resist smiling.
The convoy turned into an open
field where Mess. Sgt. Joseph Baer
of Sharon, Wis, had set up q field
kitchen near 20 small folding tables
with chairs. The President inspect
ed tx" rationS and was introduced
to so representative officers and men
who had been decorated with Silver
Stars and Purple Hearts for their
feats in the initial occupation.
He ate a typical field lunch OF
ham, green beans, sweet potatoes
coffee, bread literally spread with
butter, strawberry preserves anc
canned mixed fruit.
Leaving. the review area, the
presidential party drove to Port
Lyautey where Mr. Roosevelt's lin
CUISINE stopped at a cemetery fol
American soldiers killed in North