The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-20
SCANDALABOUT GEN. PERSHTNG
ARMY OFFICERS SAID TO RE BE-
HIND CHARGES
which. So n Manila Newspaper Asserts,
Are Now ON Their way Here-Anegcd
Immora Life OF the Captain VINO was
Jumped Up to BrIgadier-GeneraI.
Special Cable Despatch q THE SUN.

Jumped Up Il Brigadier.GenersI.
Special Cable Despatch 10 TIE SUN.
MANILA, Dec. ls.-The Manila American
publishes to-day sensational assertions
regarding Brig Gen. John J. Pershing.
who was recently jumped over the heads
of COS officers of superior rank and made
a Brigadier-G General. Prior to his nom-
nation by the President last September
Pershing had been a Captain in the Fifteenth
Cavalry.
The Manila American asserts that certain
army officers whose names it does not
mention for obvious reasons have COM
inundated with several United States
Senators requesting that action on the
nomination Of Pershing 70 be Brigadier-
General be delayed until the arrival OF
charges against him, which already have
been prepared.
The charges will arrive too late, however;
to stop confirmation, as the Senate con-
frmed Pershing on December 10. The
charges, however, may take ed ect in some
other action.
Additional to this statement, tina Manila
American makes the statement that II has
| completed an investigation OF Pershing's
| career in the Philippines. This result also
it published to-day. The newspaper
alleges that Pershing. while serving as a
| Captain on the Island Of Mindanao, had an
experience which somewhat resembles the
case Of Lieut.. Burbank, who was court
! martialleda at Leavenworth. 1t was charged,
! however, that Burbank was about to marry
a Leavenworth girl when he was in reality
the husband Of a Filipino The
latter assertion was proved. Lieut.. Bur-
bank is now serving a term in the United
States penitentiary.
The case Of Pershing is slightly different.
He was married a year ago to the daughter
Of United States Senator Warren OF Wyo-
ming. Senator Warren is the chairman OF
the Senate committee on Military Affairs.
The Manila American asserts hat Per-
shing lived with a Filipino woman, Joaquina
Bondoy Ignancio, in the Philippines. One
of their children died in the cholera epi-
demio Of 1902. Another, who is named
Petronilla. and is ~ years old, lives with
her mother in ~Zamboanga. The mother
is now the legal wife OF William Shinn,
a clerk in the Moro government h~eadquar-
ters. She is one of four attractive sisters
| VINO ~COnuuCUcu a ChlbCCh bioO Voo ~
quented by army officers in 1900 and 1907
All four now are married to Americans.
Pershing, according to the American
began his relations with Joaquina in 1900
erecting a cottage in Zamboanga, in which
he lived almost openly with her. 1t IL
understood in army circles In Manila that
Col. Morrison and Capt. Swobe and three
other officers, who are members Of Gen
William A. Hobbies staff, know the de-
tails OF the case, and that their names will
be used.
President Roosevelt was attracted by
Pershing's record in ~subduing the Moros
In Mindanao and decided TO advance him
at the first opportunity. Under the law
the President could not bestow the rank
Of Colonel upon Capt. Pershing and had
no alternative but to jump him over the
heads of COS officers of superior rank and
make him one Of the brigadier- generals, OF
whom there are fourteen in the army.
There was a great deal Of honest criticism
of the appointment in n about the army
Not Wood nor Bell nor Mills, when they
were promoted, passed so many ranking
officers. There could De no reason for
making Pershing a Brigadier-G General
but the character of his services in the
field. He had the good fortune to hold an
independent commission in the Lake Lanao
country in 1908, and in several conflicts
with rebel Moros won decisive victories,
killing a great many Of the enemy and in
curing slight losses. He succeeded in
p~acifying the Moros as much by his tact
in negotiations with them as by his opera
tiona