Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-16
PRAISED BY GREELY
WORK OF THE ARMY AT SAN
FRANCISCO.
Rehects Credit Upon the Military
Service, Says Commander of
the Pacific Division.

Maj. Gen. A. w. Greedy, commanding the
Pacific division. has issued a general order
briefly describing the work performed by
United States troops at the San Francisco
disaster and highly commencing the OFF,
GERS and men who participated. This order
which is unique OF its kind. is as follows:
'Since the troops and detailed officers
which conditions OF earthquake and fire
brought into San Francisco are now gradu-
ally returning to their normal stations and
duties the division commander takes this
opportunity to express his appreciation of
the character and value of their services.
1T IL to be remarked that these duties
brought together the largest force of the
army and navy ever engaged In a non-mili-
tary service under the American flag. 1t
thus follows that a. this command repre-
scented typtcally the military forces of the
nation It's conduct and bearing are of unus-
ual interest.
The Forces Employed.
"On this duty have been employed two
general officers. the LIST and 14th Cavalry.
the 10th. 26th. 9th. 29th. 3od. 3sth. Goth.
68th, 64th 6oth. 66th. 9th. 6sth. 10th and
1ooth companies of the coast artillery. LIST
9th and oath batteries OF field artillery, the
18th battalion Of field artillery, 18th and
18th mountain batteries. 10th. nth. 14th.
10th and 22d infantry. Companies and d
OF the corps OF engineers, Companies A and
B Of the hospital corps. Companies A. E
and III OF the signal corps. 49, STAFF and
detailed Officers. among whom were Sc
lected representatives from every corps OF
the army. including volunteers from the re-
tired list. To these were added a command
OF blue Jackets a battalion of marines and
force OF naval apprentices.
THE work done falls readily into two
phases. the struggle to save the city of San
Francisco from complete destruction by
q three
hundred thousand suffering and destitute
people. The heroic efforts of the army in
the heart Of the city under Brigadier Cen
eral Frederick Funston temporarily COM
manding the division, happily supplemented
by the labors of the navy, under Admiral
c. F. Goodrich. along the water 'front.'.
practically all the wharves fronting the
bay. The efforts Of this command from
daybreak of April Is to midnight of April
co. taxed to the utmost the physical
strength, the nervous energy and the good
temper OF every officer and man. Yet in
this fearful disaster. with its accompanying
confusion. no life was taken by any man
OF the army navy. The work and its
Accomplishments were dramatic in the ex-
IRENE.
the law and assumed by the division COM
mander from a sense of obligatory public
duty. became regular by the official call for
troops OF the governor of California, George
C. Pardee, on the President, under date or
April u. 1905,
The Duties Performed.
This duty necessitated the care OF nearly
three hundred and fifty thousand people
(313,117 were fed May y. destitute in one
way or another, IN a city without local
transportation, without food. with scant
water. without sanitary facilities, and
forced to cook all food on the public streets,
while two hundred thousand had lost house,
clothing, furniture, bedding, having saved
as a rule only the clothing in which they
stood.
ut likewise involved repression of theft
and violence by the vicious, observation-disclosures
with the liberty and acts of the ordinary
citizen. discrimination in the distribution of
food. enforcement of suitable sanitary
methods. instruction. in tent-life (forty-
three thousand people yet alive under can
vas In this city,, patient consideration,
courteous development toward the home
less and destitute Moreover, cooperation
was demanded with other independent bod
ies the state guard, the municipal police
and the health commission
The division commander learns with
extreme satisfaction that the personal be-
hayior and performance Of duty of the
army, of the navy and of the Marine Corps
have ELECTED general satisfaction and I'M
stinted praise, especially from the governor
of California, the mayor of San Francisco,
the federal officials, the citizens committee
and the city press. The very rare neglects
of duty and breaches of discipline merely
emphasize the extremely high character of
the command whole.
Praise Awarded,
THE division commander commends the
adaptability and resourcefulness shown by
officers and men in dealing with novel and
unprecedented conditions. their considera-
ton and thoughtfulness in alleviating dis
tress, their unvarying courtesy to all, and
their accomplishing devotion to the com
munity and Its interests.
These services have anew exemplfied
the admirable attributes of the American
army, officers and men, which insure the
successful application of its moral. intel
lectual and physical powers to novel and |
difficult duties.
THE record Of this command In San |
Francisco must reflect high credit the |
army a whole. indicating, as 1t does. |
that the soldier of the twentieth century |
worthily upholds In time of peril the honor |
OF the nation.