Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-20


teer Infantry in the Philippine war
Funston performed feats Of bravery
that brought him the title Of brigadier
general. His capture of Aeuinaldo and
his fording OF the Rio Grande river at
Columpit under fire featured his work.
Funston has been described by his
superiors as absolutely fearless. Ever
ready to plunge into danger, he cared
little whether his force equaled that
of his opponent. One day, the story
goes. when it appeared certain the
F1lfpinos would destroy three compa-
MES under Funston's command. Gen.
Harrison Gray Otis inquired Of the
colonel how long he could hold his DO
sition.
Until I am mustered out" Funston
replied; and he made good by repuls-
ing the Filipinos.
Keeps Order During Disaster.
When the volunteers were discharged
Funston retained his rank as a mem
Der of the regular army. AS a regular
he made mark by maintaining order
in San Francisco during the disaster of
1906. Temporarily in charge of the
troops at the Presidio, when the dis
turbance came. he quickly declared
martial law and set about obtaining
accommodations for the homeless.
keeping down the cost of food and ar
resting trouble makers.
physically. Funston was one of the
smallest men in the United States
Army. He was barely five feet five
inches tall and usually weighed less
than 40 pounds. In civil life he was
modest and retiring.
Favors Higher Pay for Soldiers.
Cen Funston was a. pioneer in the
project of paying the enlisted man moro
money for his services. AS early as
1904. in his annual report to the War
Department as commander of the De-
partment OF the Columbia, he said, in
part:
There is scarcely any doubt that
such action would bring into the army
a vastly superior body of men, who
would remain in the service and make
it their life work.
His quick, snappy way of accomplish
ing matters often led him into discus
sions and situations which in his earlier
years caused him embarrassment. A
few years ago he said in an interview;
I'm my earlier army career I talked
too much. paid for It, too An army
officer has no business talking The
less he talks the better off he Is"
L,
On the arrival of the Kansas troops
from the Philippines Funston was pre-
sented with a sword, the gift of 1000
kansans.
On recent visit to Kansas he was
going over some of the country in
which he spent his boyhood days and
said to a companion Of the troop: II
surely made a fool Of myself when I
didn't stay on the farm" He hesitated
a moment and added: "But then, think
OF the fun / would have missed"
Sensational Newspaper Work.
When out of school young Funston
took up newspaper work on the Kansas
City Times and later on Fort Smith
Ark, and New York publications. His
newspa er career was stormy, his Kan
sas City position terminating after he
had enlivened a supposedly staid mar.
ket report and his Fort Smith adven.
ture ending with his Resignation.
after running the paper in high-hande,
fashion during the absence of the
managing editor.
Gen. Funston was a featherweigh
as tan as physical dimensions were con.
cerned. When he was appointed colone
OF Kansas regiment, Funston was
told by friend that he would have Z
hard time passing the doctors.
Then I'll dodge the DOCTORS" imme.
diately replied Funston. He led his
troops through the Philippine cam.
paign, which terminated with the cap
ture of Aguinaldo. The taking of the
famous insurrecto was laughingly
characterized as dirty trick by Gen