The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-21
FRIENDS DEFEND
GENERAL PERSHIN(1.
Say Stories Of immortality of Re-
Gently Promoted General Are
Without Foundation.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
Washington, Dec. 21.-Brigadier Gen
eral John d. Pershing, who was pro-
noted to his present position from a
captaincY over the heads of S62 su-
perlor officers and against whose char
acter allegations of immortality have
been made in Manila and elsewhere,
was yesterday vigorously defended by
many of his friends. Included in. the
number was Secretary Root, who first
y suggested Pershing's promotion, when
secretary of war; Secretary Taft, Sen
ator Warren, chairman Of the senate
military affairs committee and the
father-in-law of General Pershing. and
others prominent in military and civil
life. ~
The charge that General Pershing has
children by Filipino woman is pro-
nounced absolutely without found ation.
The declaration that General Pershing
and his wife were on the point of
separation few months ago because Of
his relations with the Filipino woman
are denied.
General Pershing and his wife are
now en- route to Manila, where he will
assume command of division in the
Philippines. They sailed Yesterday from
Toxic for the last stage of their
journey. 81 r..
Last March an anonymous letter was
received by President Roosevelt. It
declared that an investigation should
be made Of General Pershing's private
record before he was promoted from
captain to brigadier general. It was
alleged in this anonymous letter, that
while serving in the island of Min
danao, stationed at Zamboango, Captain
Pershing had almost openly lived with
a Filipino woman, by whom he had at
least two, if not three children, that
he had built a house for her and made
his home with her. E
Origin Of Story. 81
The only possible explanation as to
the origin Of the story about Captain
Pershing as outlined above is thus
stated by many of General Pershing's
friends:
A short distance from Zamboango
lived two half Spanish and half Filipino
women with three half-white children.
They keep a sort of resort where cigars
and refreshments were sold. Officers
and men frequently stopped at this
place and often talked to the children.
Ii was common practice to ask first
one and then another Of the children
"Who is your father?' The child
would always reply, "Governor Taft"
Kob GyeTnor capta Mip'g Geman
Swobe, - "Cap plain Pershing,O or any
other name that came handy. It was
regarded as, a joke and nothing more
thought Of it.
Committee Cant Act.
Nothing can now come before the
senate military affairs committee to
affect General Pershing. He was con-
frmed more than week ago. He can
only be reached now by court-martial
proceedings instituted in the usual way.
Senator Warren emphatically declares
that the question of promoting Per
shing was first mentioned to him long
before either he or his daughter had
seen that officer.
Prior to Pershing's confirmation a
letter was received by Senator Warren
from Captain Thomas Swobe, saying
that he lived in the same house with
Pershing and that curfew regulation
made only by General Kobbe compelled
all officers to be in their quarters be-
fore IL at night. This regulation was
religiously observed by the officers.
This, Captain Swobe declared, preclud-
ed the possibility of Pershing living
in separate house with a Filipino
woman.