To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War by Shaara Jeff

Author:Shaara, Jeff [Shaara, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 2004-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

“SIR, COLONEL MITCHELL IS HERE.”

Pershing pushed his papers aside, stifled a yawn. “Send him in.”

“Hello, General. Nice day for a plague of locusts, wouldn’t you say?”

Pershing knew to expect some strange greeting from Mitchell, usually laced with humor. But Mitchell was not smiling, and Pershing said, “If you say so, Colonel.”

Mitchell sat down without permission, was the one man Pershing would allow to make himself so completely comfortable without the proper show of protocol. It was the one concession Pershing made to the man’s extraordinary longevity. Mitchell was five years older than Tasker Bliss and the retired Hugh Scott; within months, he would reach his seventieth birthday. No other American officer in France could make that statement. Pershing glanced at his papers again, his mind drifting over the blur of words.

“What’s on your mind, Colonel?”

“Mind. Now there’s something. We all have one, you know. Problem is, there’s so few men around who actually know how to use the one they’ve been given.”

Pershing looked at the old man, had gone through this routine before, knew that Mitchell had a serious point behind this show of curmudgeonly grouchiness. But there was still no humor in the man’s words. He was surprised by the anger in Mitchell’s scowl, said, “Whose mind might you be referring to, Colonel?”

“Well, for one, there’s the pea-brained genius who set the physical standards for our pilots. That wouldn’t be . . . you, sir?”

“No. I consented to allowing General Foulois to implement the policies that the War Department sent with him.”

“Ah, yes. Ben Foulois. I haven’t checked my French dictionary, but I’m guessing the translation of his name. Fool-wah. Now there’s a man whose name fits him like a well-oiled boot.”

Foulois’ arrival continued to be a sore point to Pershing. His original selection of William Kenly to head the AEF’s Air Service had been suddenly preempted by Tasker Bliss, Bliss deciding to appoint Benjamin Foulois to replace Kenly, without even discussing the matter with Pershing at all. Foulois had simply arrived in France, with orders from Bliss to assume command of the air service. Pershing had known Foulois in Texas, a woefully inept commander of the army’s futile attempt to bring aircraft into the pursuit of Pancho Villa. The project had been abandoned almost immediately, but to Pershing’s dismay, Foulois had gained considerable influence at the War Department. When he arrived in France, Foulois had been accompanied by an entire staff of officers, none with any experience at all in dealing with either aircraft or pilots. Though Bliss’ orders recalled Kenly to Washington, Mitchell had simply been overlooked, to Pershing’s enormous relief, and Pershing had made it clear to Foulois that Billy Mitchell would maintain his position and his authority. In a short time, Foulois had established his command over the nonexistent air force, and wisely kept his distance from Pershing, relying on Mitchell to act as go-between. Pershing had to hope that Foulois might yet grow into his role, and Pershing had assigned the man’s entire staff to focus on one priority: training pilots.

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