Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-28
HOT ON THE TRAIL
OF PANCHO VILLA
Colonel Dodd and Colonel Slocum,
Cavalrymen, Are Men Expert
enced in Irregular Warfare.
Their Past Exploits


The other two are General Pershing, the COM
mander of the American forces in Mexico,
and Colonel Slocum. All three have had ex-
perience in irregular warfare All of them
saw Jungle fighting in the Philippines They
participated also in earlier campaigns against
the Indians. Colonel George A. Dodd Is a
Pennsylvania, He belongs to a military
family. Nearly SO years ago there came
to a home in Rose Valley, Lycoming
County, message that brought sorrow to a
woman. It told her that her husband, Lieu
tenant Allen G. Dodd, had been mortally
wounded while leading a company in a charge
in front Of Petersburg. Today the same
woman, now So years of age, is anxiously
watching the news from Mexico. for her eldest
son. Colonel George A. Dodd, u. S. A., who
was only II years old when his father died of
his wounds, is leader of the cavalry column
in the hunt for Villa. Colonel Dodd's own
son. Charles, on account of Ill health was
forced to retire from the Philippine constabu-
larry after seven years service as lieutenant.
He has two other sons and three daughters.
One daughter is the wife of Captain Leary,
who Is stationed at Douglas; another is the
wife of Captain Starbird, who is at an army
post in oklahoma. Mrs George A Dodd lives
at Ithaca, N. Y.
Before entering the army Colonel Dodd
porters who remember Colonel Dodd as a boy
say he was never happier than when driving
a team of his fathers horses. The mother
was opposed to the son entering West Point.
However, she proudly tells how, while pre-
pairing for the examination, he carried books
with him to his work and studied while driv-
ing team the farm.
"If he starts out to do anything hell do
it and do it WELL" she said as she looked at a
framed portrait of the cavalrynan.
Author of Monkey Drill
Colonel George A. Dodd tall and wiry.
bronzed by the sun of many campaigns and
head Of the flying column" is 63 years old,
but when he retires this year he will leave
active service as physically fit as when he
got his sheepskin at West Point. His hobby
Is physical training. He instituted the
monkey drill" for training the cavalry.
Colonel Herbert Jermain Slocum is also a
cavalryman and member of military fam
lily. He is a graduate of West Point, and Is
now about 60 years old Colonel Slocum's
father is Colonel J. j. Socum, a Civil War
veteran, who is brother of Mrs Russell Sage.
an executor of the Sage will and in charge Of
the interests of the Sage estate. A third
officer in this distinguished militar: family
is Major Stephen L'Hommedieu Slocum, U.
mander of the 18th Cavalry, served in the in
fantry branch and was retired at his own
quest few years ago, after having graced
the post, in 1911, of Military Attache from
the United States at the Court of ST. James.
Colonel Herbert Jermain Slocum has two sons,
both resident in New York They Herbert
]. Slocum Jr., and Myles S. Slocum. engineers,
at 80 Church street. BY marriage they are re.
lated to General +. A. McAlpin, their mother,
who was Colonel Socum's first wife, having
been a sister of Mrs. McApin.
Slocum's Cuban RuraIes
Colonel Slocum is looked upon as one of the
most efficient officers in the cavalry branch of
our military establishment Perhaps his most
notable service was the organization of the
young Cuban rurales. When the United States
had set up the island as young republic all
the leaders, American and Cuban, appreciated
the necessity of strong rganzed force to
preserve order, as the couLIry had been torn
by fighting for years and was full of bad
men," Colonel Slocums rural guard sprang
into existence and efficiency in surprisingly
short order and Cuba never had any trouble
which the rurales did not quickly subdue. All
through the jungles of Cuba detachments of
the rurales now ride, standing tribute to Slo.
cum. They look like United States cavalry
men except for the swarthy complexion and
the machete, which takes the place of the
sabre They ride we'll and maintain good dis
cipline.
In November, 1912, Cuba had presidential
election in which feeling ran very high. A few
bullets flew and windows were broken in the
capital. There We're predictions that election
day would be the occasion of typical Latin
American outburst. Colonel Slocum, however,
said no. Nothing would happen. And he was
right. His splendid force swept into the
cities, policing the polling places, ordered all
Cuban gentlemen to leave their canes (often
concealing rapier) at home and the election
was as quiet as though it had been in Maine
or Minnesota,
While some might argue that our American
army leaders would be a bit lost at first on a
European battlefield of today, this is not by
any means true OF their present Job in Mexico.
Fighting in a rough uninhabited country, with
irregular and Elusive troops, is just the sort OF
thing for which the United States Army Is
noted. Many of the leaders of the present
expedition have given notable proof of their
fitness for this kind OF work Chasing Indians
and Filipinos and driving through the brush
of Cuba are much like pursuing Villa.
Pershing Slocum. Dodd-there are no better
men for their present job. In fact, they are
the kind of men who make good anywhere
under any conditions.