Honolulu star-bulletin., 1916-03-18
funston HAS GENIUS FOR Being
ATVERYPLACE TROUBLE BREAKS
Reporter, Explorer, Cuban
Sympathizer and Then Off,
Ger in United States Army

Born OF a father who had seen aTtil-
lery service in the Civil War, reared
on stories of the struggles of that con-
flict, and brough, face To face through
his manhood with more adventure
than befaHs the average man, Gen.
Frederick Funston, commanding the
Southern Department of the army, Is
now in his element with the Mexican
situation to handle. "-=.
Gen. Funston was born in New Car
Isle, OHIO, November ., 1865, and is
therefore a little more than 80 years
of age. .... 49,. ....-.......
The world came first to a knowledge
of General Funston in 1899, when. IN
the philippines, he crossed the Rio
Grande river On a raft with six Een
under a heqvy fire from inSarrectos,
dislodg I'd the enemy from the other
side OF the stream, ana then, leading
q squad OF 30 men, drove 600 Filipinos
back from a bridge head, giving Gen
eral Macarthur and General Wheaton
a chance to put their troops across.
Funston held the rank OF cCionel
from the 20th Kansas Volunteers at
the TIME, but for this act OF bravery
lie was IOInotSu W hAh VI W i7eAu'Si..
general. F.. ...=
Before this time lie had been a stu
dent at the Kansas State University,
a reporter for two years on a Kansas
City newspaper, member OF the bo-
tanical expedition that explored
Death Valley for the government. aad
later OF a similar expedition INFO
Alaska. ..
Alone in canoe he had drifted
down the yukon, and spent winter
camping in the Klondike; he had
joined the CUBAN rebellion in 1896,
and for his bravery in running the
Cuban blockade had been made lieu
tenant-colonel in their army.
Probably one of Funston's greatest
achievements was the capture of
Agulnaldo in 1861, as he planned, or
ganized and conducted the expedition
against the outlaw Jaunty and snil-
ing in the face of danger, he took each
Of his adventures as d lark, and as
one man has said, "he has perfect
genius Tor being where trouble starts, |
Or, whore no trouble is, starting it Tor !
himself. >" =.s esE
Twenty to one were the chances /
against him in the expedition, but he I
in his characteristic way, /
General Macarthur would not believe
Tor q moment that the outlaw chief
mad been captured when Funston re-
ported to him. 31Is
General Macarthur was just rising
md came out IN a wrapper to meet
me-" says Funston HE shook hands,
ooked et me in a quizzieal way, but
ii0 not ask a question.
Il said, Well, ! have brought you
Don Emilio The general could
believe it, and asked. Where
s he?' | replied, Right in the house.
Funston was in command. on the
sland (f Luzon from 1911, and before
he Mexican trouble began year before
ast, was in command in Hawaii. At
Vera Cruz in very complicated stu
ion he directed the 5000 men under
i'm with perfect order.
II is said that one of his staff Off
ers, soon after Funston'S brigade had
eIieved Admiral Fletcher's marines
md bluejackets, suggested certain
hangas in the line of observation out
ide the city. To this suggestion the
General replied in a characteristic
manner:
when this thing breaks | am not
.oing to do any fighting on my own
efenses. i am going to do all the
ghting on the other fellows defenses.
Veil ,et these lines stay about as
hey are II