Together with the Commander-in-Chief of all the French forces and accompanied by several French generals, representing the most important military units in France, General Pershing made one of his now famous whirlwind inspection tours and descended upon the marines amid a cloud of dust which marked the line of travel of the high-powered French touring-cars which carried the generals. Not so very long before that the field-telephone in the regimental office rang and a voice came over the wire: “The big blue machine is on the way down, and will probably be there in ten minutes.” That was sufficient. Two or three telephone-calls were hurriedly made, and the Colonel, accompanied by his staff, proceeded on “up the line,” met the General’s party, and the marines were ready. The result of the inspection is summed up in the memorandum issued to the command and which says in part: “Yesterday, at the inspection of the regiment by General ——, Commander-in-Chief of all the French forces, General Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American forces in France, and General ——, commanding the —— Division Chasseurs, who are instructing our men, General —— congratulated the Colonel of our regiment on the splendid appearance of officers and men as well as the cleanliness of the town. General Pershing personally told the regimental commander that he wished to congratulate him on having such an excellent regiment.” This announcement was read to the marines as they were lined up for their noonday meal. And where is the marine whose chest would not swell just a bit at this tribute paid by General Pershing to those upon whose shoulders rests the responsibility of maintaining and perpetuating the glorious history and fine traditions of the United States Marine Corps? JUDGING BY HIS LETTERS “Where’s your uncle, Tommy?” “In France.” “What is he doing?” “I think he has charge of the war.” BLESS THESE AMATEURS “What are you knitting, my pretty maid?” She purled, then dropped a stitch. “A sock or a sweater, sir,” she said, “And darned if I know which!” NEW GROUNDS FOR EXEMPTION The two young girls watched the “nutty young Cuthbert” pass along the street. “Did he appeal for exemption?” said May. “Yes,” said Ray, “you might have known he would.” “On what grounds?” “I don’t know,” replied Ray, “unless it was upon the ground that if he went to the war his wife’s father would have no son-in-law to support.” SOUSA’S LITTLE JOKE Lieut. John Philip Sousa, who is organizing military bands for the navy, was talking to a correspondent about the submarine danger. “A friend of mine, a cornet virtuoso,” he said, “was submarined in the Mediterranean. The English paper that reported the affair worded it thus: “‘The famous cornetist, Mr. Hornblower, though submarined by the Germans in the Mediterranean, was able to appear at Marseilles the following evening in four pieces.’” RAPID MILITARY ADVANCEMENT