GENERAL PERSHING AND GERMAN LIARS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 8

GENERAL PERSHING AND GERMAN LIARS

UNITED STATES COMMANDER GROSSLY MISREPRESENTED.

General Pershing, Comniaiider-in-Chiei: of the American Army in France, when visited at his headquarters by a representative of the "Petit Parisien," spoke of tho great assistance he was receiving from the French military authorities, and of the happy, and fraternal relations that were developing betiieen ihi. armies of Franco and the United States. Uf his troops he said :— "You will boo thai/ tho American Army k wade up or fine elements. Tho ri'.ea show an ardent desire to do their beet, with ft. doep sense of responsibility in ihe work they Imvo come over to aocoiiiplish.' Time was never more precious, and we aro making the most of every minute. But you will see for yourselves that we are not going to show France an improvised army. It will be a strong and well-organised army capable of conquering."

General Persbmg stopped lor a few seconds and then added;—

"Hero is something that you might make kuov/ii. Humours, which eau only be of German origin, have been spread even in Parliamentary circles. Extraordinary statements have been said to have hecn mado by me and probably for the purpose of spreading discouragement my views have been singularly distorted.

"It has been alleged that I have stated that we Americans could not be ready for five years. The perfidious rumour spreaders have gone even farther. I am said to have criticised the Fronch and British high commands.

"This'is entirely contrary to mjr opinion, and, there is not a word of truth in these insidious rumours."

General Pershing then repeated his denial in French, with a force which wo would liko to express, a force in which there was utter contempt for tho base manoeuvres of tho Germans. Despite his complete self-control and although ho never once raised his voice, his words showed the flame that was burning within him. In truth, adds the correspondent, there was no need to > emphasise, the words. The work ho has accomplished and is accomplishing every hour of the day reflects his thought, and that thought is victory, desired, deserved, and won by the effort of a great nation which took up arms in a. just cause. His last words to us showed his complete solidarity with the Allies, and his hopes founded on powerful means.

General Pershing rose and walked toward the frame entwined with tbo national colours.'• It contains an address from the municipality of the town in which he has established his headquarters and which expresses the feeling towards him ,of tho French nation.

After leaving the commander we walked over the barracks, a beehive of activity. The. big bell of the barracks, to the ring of which wo Frenchmen aro so accustomed, has just rang out for parade. The' Stars and Stripes, flies beside the French flag. Who would have thought, ouly a few months ago, that this courtyard on which French poilus have tramped, would see the soldiers of tho great American Republic lined up as they aro before us. to-day?