Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-05-30
PERSHINC COOL,
BRAVE, STRONG
Fighter From tho Beginning
viii Lead First Force.
HAS HAD EvEMTFUL CAREER

Doesn't Like Mahogany pesks. but 10
Happy on the Fieid-Won the sobri-
quet Of Black jack a. an Officer Of
the Famous Negro Tenth. Which Took
San Juan Eioekhouss.
For the first time In history the
United States will send a force Of
troops for military purposes to Europe.
and to Black Jack" Pershing. young
est of the major generals, has fallen
the distinction OF commanding this ex.
peditlonary division. Through skir-
mishes with the Indians, battles against
Spain. Filipino Instructions and clash.
es with the Mexicans Major General
Pershing has won his way until now
he receives the active command of the
first Americans fighting under this flag
who will come to grips with the Ger
mans In the Armageddon. For thirty
one years Pershing has been a soldier.
and during that time he.has crowded
into the chapters OF his life action.
troubles and laurels that make him n
distinctive figure among the general
officers of the regular army
"Black Jack. Pershing, as the men
OF the rank and file know the COM
mander OF the department Of the
south and the successor to the late
Frederick Funston. Is the type OF the
soldier whom Frederic Remington I'M
mortalized In his pictures Of the In
dian campaigns Lean. but rugged, his
six feet and better every inch bone
and muscle. he typifes the ideal cav.
airy officer He has been hardened
by field service physically and has been
broadened In executive service By sew
eral difficult poets In the Philippines
He cares little for swivel chairs and
desks, but he dotes on boots and sad
dies. and in his Mexican expedition he
took bis troops ahead with such dash
and efficiency that his command won
the unstinted praise Of foreign officers
One British subaltern. sent for obser-
vation purposes. called Pershing's CON-
mand 'the finest body OF soldiers Of its
size In the world"
old. and his honors came with a rush
during the last sixteen years. He was
born In Laelede. Linn county. Mo.
Pershing was appointed to West Point
In 1882 and four years later was grad
uated as senior cadet captain, the high
est honors which come to any under
graduate OF the Military academy.
Won Fame Fighting Indians.
The man who will lead the division
to France fought Apaches and Sioux
Indians until the militaristfc Poor Lo
gave up the unequal fight and became
pacific again. For seven years Lieu.
tenant Pershing never knew a promo
ton, but in 1893 he was raised to the
rank OF first lieutenant. He was as
signed to the Tenth cavalry. the crack
negro command that afterward won
fame at the San Juan blockhouse. Be
cause OF the fact that he was appoint
ed to the colored troop he earned the
sobriquet Of BLACK Jack"
The young officer applied himself to
a study OF tactics. an application
which has since resulted in the ac
acknowledgement OF Pershing as the best
strategist In the regular army. Such
became his reputation even then that
he was assigned to West Point as an
Instructor on this subject He did not
remain above the Hudson long, for
the war with Spain broke out, and
Pershing applied instantly for a place
with the negro Tenth Ills command
was shipped to Cuba among the first
troops of that expeditionary force, and
be distinguished himself In the field
His colonel termed him "the bravest
and coolest man he ever saw under
fire." while at the battle Of Ell Caney
PershIng was promoted to captain for
signal gallantry in action
Sent to the Philippines.
When the war ended President Nc
Kinley exercised his executive right
and gave Captain Pershing q berth as
the head of the customs and insular
affairs In the war department But
the life Of the bureaucrat was like an
opiate to the man Of action. Pershing
tired of the endless routine and was
anxious to get back to the battle line
again. So he asked to be sent to the
Philippines, where the little brown men
were cutting up rough with the neph-
ews Of their adopted Uncle Samuel So
to Mindanao Pershing went az adju-
tant general Of that department He
familiarized himself with the Moro
problem. for the brown bandits were
largely Of that tribe. fighters, cruel and
bl0odthirsty too.
Active command Of the expedition to
subjugate these tribesmen was finally
given to Captain Pershing. and after
months Of applied diplomacy and bull
let's he brought them to subsection. He
was made military governor Of Minda-
mao and showed such executive fore
sight and precedence in his dealings
with the natives that the Moros chose
Pershing to be datto. or ruler. This