Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-21
GENERAL FUNSTON
DIES SUDDENLY
Commander of Southern De-
partment of United States
Is Stricken,
A DISTINGUISHED CAREER

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER
San Antonio, TEX, Feb. 20.-Maior
General Frederick Funston. com
mander OF the Southern department,
of the United Sta,es army since Feb
ruary, 1915, died suddenly at a hotc
here last night few minutes after he
had finished dinner. He collapsed while
seated III the lobby OF the hotel talk.
ing with friends and was playing
with little lnez Silverberg OF Des
Moines, Ia, guest with her parents
at the hotel. when he fell unconscious
Death was almost instantaneous
General Funston was 81 years old.
Ever since March. 1916, when he
was placed in command of all United
States forces on the Mexican border,
General Funston had worked at an
unusual pace, At critical times IN
border developments, he frequently
remained on duty twenty-tour hours
OF the twenty-four, The handling Of
regulars disposed of at various sta.
tons on the border, the Pcrshing ex-
petition and of late Encouragement OF
regular troops while providing for
the return of Nation al Guardsmen
have entailed an enormous amount
OF detail work, probably exceeding
that which fell to any commanding
general of the United States army
since the civil war. Only today Gen.
eral Funston completed orders for
the return of the last OF the guards.
men
Performed Difficult Tasks.
The picturesque and dashing cap.
ture OF Aguinaldo, the Filipino rebel
chief, was the achievement which
brought Funston prominently to the
attention of the American people, but
he performed many services for his
country besides thai which were
probably more difficult His admin.
stration of affairs III Vera Cruz
where he carried out the presidents
orders with firm hand, simply hold.
ing the city, when every influence
about was conferred upon forcing the
American army into actual fighting
with the Mexicans, probably was the
most notable of his career.
The American troops had been in
possession of Vera Cruz only a few
days when one of the Mexican gen
erals sent in a message. saying in
most polite terms that he was unable
to longer restrain his troops, and that
they were about to advance and drive
the Americans into the sea.
If you can't hold your troops back,
| can" was the laconic message that
Funston sent back. Because of the
amount of work which had fallen to
him, General Funston's only relaxa-
ton for nearly year had been an oc-
casional dinner party with a few
friends.
Returned from "Trip.
Only recently General Funston re-
turned from an inspection trip, which |
took him as far as Nogaes, Ariz.
That, with one trip to Brownsville,
Tex, and brief visit to Austin, Tex, |
last year, was the only occasion when |
he had been absent from his desk
since the border trouble developed.
Two weeks ago General Funston
suffered an attack of indigestion
To use his own expression, 81 fought |
it out alone" Later he placed him
self under the care of Lieutenant
Colonel w. NJ. Ireland of the med
icsl corps, Southern department, and
regained normal health and spirits.
For three days." Colonel Ireland
said tonight, General Funston had
been entirely we'll"
Nevertheless, at dinner tonight,
General Funston was particularly alb
'temious and ate only sparingly OF the
simplest dishes.
Colonel Ireland said:
General Funston's death was
caused by angina sclerosis of the
arteries of the heart. Death was al
most immediate and without pain"
Colonel Malvern-Hill Barnum, Cen
sral Funston's chief of staff, imme-
lately notified the War department
Of General Funston's death. News
who is visiting her father in Califor-
lia. No arrangements for General
Funston's funeral have been made.
The body was taken to local I'M q
lertaking establishment. :
Comes as Shock.
Washington, Feb. l9.-Major Cen
raj Funston's sudden death came as
great shock to high officials of the
Irmy and to President Wilson. He
vas one of the distinguished COM
handlers of the service, and one OF !
whom greater things were expected in
he future. The youngest major gen.
raj of the line, vigorous and appar-
ntly healthy, he had been counted
IN by his superiors for many more
ears of active service.
The news reached the War depart
nent late tonight in brief dispatch
rom the headquarters Of the south
Ter was being given to the president,
secretary Bakers home, where din
Ter was being given to the President,
With most Of the ranking army Of
cers in Washington, among the
,uests.
Bakers Statement.
Secretary Baker made this state c
1ent: b
General Funston's death is loss r
0 the army and loss to the country. q
During the trouble on the Mexican e
order, his work has been difficult, ex- h
citing and delicate. His conduct has r
cen that OF soldier, and has
xemplihed the high tradition of the $
american army by his quick, intelli- S
ent and effective action. Through d
ut it all the sympathy between Cen v