The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-04-15


a..s.
they are effective, yet, after training
an American tank corps in the Cali
fornia desert last summer, he said:
eve unquestionably have the best
tanks in the world But this talk that
we're going to win the war because
we have EN- is all bunk You win wars
with quits, not machines, although
they are necessary"
At night on the desert, General
Patton sleeps on the ground beside
small slit-trench, for AFRAID protec-
ton, just as his men do. He uses
sleeping bag he has been perfecting
during his thirty-odd years in the
army.
At meal time he sits on the ground
with the sole incidental luXuries of an
oversize cooking kit and real coffee
instead Of powdered, and cooks over
a fire in a tin can sunk in the ground.
As student Of military history
Patton can tell you exactly where all
the troops were placed in any given
battle Of the Civil War, or practically
any other war for that matter.
The general, says Mrs. Patton, is
full Of tricks. Three years ago when
on maneuvers in Virginia, he wanted
to get his troops through a heavily
wooded area He saw an old man doz-
ing away on his porch.
Hey. there, have you heard the
news ? The Yankees are coming" he
shouted
"What's that you say? What dye
want?' chirped the old man, coming
to with a start. The general said he
wanted to get through.
"Me and my grandson will stay up
all night chopping 'em trees down
come back about a. m. My pappy
fit agin them felIers vars ago"
81 Years Old
Patton, tough, towering and spare
Of figure, is 81 years old. He grew up
at San Gabriel, Cal, but has lived
since at army camps all over the
country.
His brief leaves have been spent
usually at Green Meadows, the Pat
tons beautiful old farmhouse at Ham
ilton, Mass.
At West Point, Patton was a track
star and he broke the Intercollegiate
record for the 22O-yard dash.
+ Mrs. Patton and the general were
Joint masters of the "Cobbler Hunt"
at Delaplain, Va, and the general
once was master of the hounds of the
/ Cavalry Hunt, Fort Riley, Kansas.
Won 200 Ribbons
The general has won more than 200
ribbons for his craftsmanship He likes
to break in his own horses and he
has taught all three of his children to
/ ride.
After the first World War Patton
attended advanced army schools and
learned to fly He formerly owned his
own plane and often went up for a
glimpse of his troops on maneuvers.
Several years ago, when he was or
dered to Hawaii he went in his own
sailboat, most Of the way by dead
reckoning, instead OF going on a reg
ular army transport. Mrs. Patton did
the cooking. The Pattons own and
sail together forty-Seven-foot
schooner called the "Whcn and f.
in which they hope some day to sail
around the world.
Through the years, marked by
many changes and long separations
Mrs. Patton has developed a philos-
ophy and drawn up code of advice
for other wives Of men fighting over
seas.
The advice includes not to worry
not to listen to rumors, but to write
cheerful letters, keep the family in
tact and get regular job.
zone of the hardest things womcI
have to bear in wartime is waiting,
she says.
81 took the other two wars pretty
hard" she adds, referring to the Mex.
lean campaign against Villa and the
first World War.
when the general, having beef
! grievously wounded and left for dead