Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-07-06
Why the General Goes to Battle
Front in Advance of First
u. S. Force.
IS SOLDIER And STUDENT
Remarkable Career of the Man AS
siqned to Lead American Army
Against the Teuton Hordes-
Man of Iron VIII and De-
termination.

pprShing tackle MS DlE JpD vi l'dl
lno all the French know of the 1917
brand of warfare and communicating
,his knowledge to the American army!
That's what the generals orders TO
90 to the battle front in advance of
the first United States force, which
he will later lead, really mean. He's
there to get every kink and twist or
modern fighting into his brain and
send ii along to the waves of troops
Uncle Sam is preparing to fling
against the kaiser.
Well, here's "A piece Of Pershings
record which shows what kind of
stuff he is made of-that he can study
as well as fight. Back in the early
nineties, after he had spent arduous
years chasing Apaches and Sioux. he
was assigned as instructor in military
tactics mt the University of Nebraska
and remained there four years.
Most young officers would have
considered this good chance to loaf,
or, mt least, to take a rest. Nothing
to do but superintend the drill of the
tDiitSt DONS anu utllNtI lt" w
mentary lectures.
But not so Pershing. He saw an
opportunity to put down = solid found
datiOn which would some day stand
him, he thought, in good stead. He
entered and completed the course nj
the university law school in addition
to his regular duties. His degree of
bachelor of laws came ut the end or
an arduOuS four years. indeed.
Right after the close of the Spanish
American war Pershing's farsighted-
ness and industry bore the natural
fruit.
Needed Trained Brains.
There was urgent need at Washing
ton of clear, trained brains and tested
administrative experience to organize
the government Of Americas new
colonies. The authorities looked
around for such man. Pershing had
had an excellent record in the Cuban
campaign. His habits Of study, his
thOroughness and his knowledge of
law were recognized. So he was
chosen 10 OTSuIiZe tHt DuTtuu VI III
sular affairs and was its first chief.
A man of breadth and intelligence
and extraordinary mental activity is
Pershing-and also a man of iron will
and determination, mingled with a
mellowness of temper which makes
him beloved by his troops.
Born In Missouri i'm 1860, Pershng
got his intermediate education in the
quite tame atmosphere of normal
school at Kirksville. He jumped into
the warlike surroundings of West
Point and completed the course in
1856. becoming second lieutenant
in the Sixth cavalry, and almost i'm
.mediately plunging Into the campaign
against the Apaches. Four years
later, in 1890. he served against the
Sioux He was in command of the
Sioux Indian scouts for awhile. then
came the experience ut the University
of Nebraska. where he was such q
success as an instructor that he was
sent to teach tactics at the West
Point academy. There he remained
until the outbreak of the war with
Spain. He was remembered at the
academy for the strict seriousness
with which he taught.
Following his organization of the
bureau of insular affairs, after the
war. he was sent to the Philippines
and assigned to the difficult task of sit
ting on the bloodthirsty Moros. whom
~. nj, hnn ID
most gingerly.
Goes After the Moros.
These head-hunting Mohammedar
savages respected nothing but force
They rather welcomed the American,
as new kind of enemy on whom t.
try their cruel barangs. When the
United States army officers tried t.
tell them Uncle Sam was their sincere
friend they laughed and spat insults
They thought the Americans were
afraid of them!
So there was nothing to do but
break down the Moro stronghOlds
subduc their chiefs, destroy their vii
lagos. hunt them day and night unit
they should suffer so fearfully they
would admit the American was theil
master.
This must he done to free the peace
full tribes round about from the Moros
piratical raids and to institute re
gime of peace and progress.
Pershing first took on famous
body of naked fighters who had for
titled the crater of an extinct vol
cano called Bud Dajo. on the ISLAM
of Julo. They had held this point 70
some time and detied attack. Per
shing announced he was going to TAX
the volcano if II meant ten years
steady work.
With thousand men, half of then
his own trusted troopers and n
others picked native scouts. the can
paign began. The attackers had (
march through miles and miles O
dense jungle, opposed m almost ever
yard by their fierce foemen. But PEI
shing fought his way to the foot q
the mountain.
Pershing'S fighters cut trai
around the mountain, and fortifyin
themselves from attack from abOv,