New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-20

Funston for the field command. Every
army officer expected that when Fun,
ston landed in Vera Cruz he would
start something
Funston Wins Promotion
But when Funston relieved the navy
of possession of the city he learned
that President Wilson's orders were
that there was TO be no aggressive
movement; that the army was to watch
and wait.
The pressure on the little commander
can only be realized by those who were
with him in Vera Cc3z in those crucial
hours. Thousands of Americans
thronged the city and urged that the
army move on; enthusiasm for finish
ing the job was high among the
Younger officers. The outposts were
insulted, even fired upon; American
troops were kidnapped by the Mex
leans, one soldier was killed and
burned; the camps were raided.
Every provocation to put fighting
man to action was given, but Funston
never forgot his orders, whatever his
own emotions might have been. lie
held down the situation. and President
Wilson made him major general:
General Funston was born in ONO IN
1866. son of Edward Hogue Funston,
formerly Representative from Kansas
FOR nine years. Young Funston was taken
20 the latter state by his family In 1861,
studied in the common schools and at
tended the Kansas State University Tor
two years. Then after teaching for q
while he began newspaper work on a
Kansas City paper in 1890. year
set in ha
States Death Valley Exposition.
Becomes Kansas Colonel
When hostilities with Spain began
he offered his services, was commits
stoned colonel Of the 10th Kansas and
sent to the Philippines. He had not
been on the other side of the world
great while before reports began TO ar
rive Of his brilliant exploits. In March,
1899. fighting before Mslolos, he found
himself with part OF his command on
one side of the muddy Marilao River
and force of Filipinos on the other
side, who had good position and were
CALLING the American troops by their
constant fire.
Calling for volunteers who could
swim, Colonel Funston selected twenty
men, told them to follow him, and,
holding his revolver up, swan the
stream. The men put their guns on
logs and followed, pushing the logs.
On the other side the little force
charged and captured eighty Filipinos.
He was the first man TO enter Ma
lolos after the capture. He was the
first American officer to cross the river
at Calumpit. In May, 1899, in conjunc-
ton with General Macarthur. he dis
persed 500 insurgents who were in
trenched near Santa Arita. And so 1t
went. He was promoted to the rank
of brigadier general of volunteers on
Nav 2, 1899, and in November of that
wear the Little Hero of Manila" and
the Fighting goth" returned home,
and his regiment was mustered out.
The people of Kansas presented a ST.
600 sword TO General Funston.
Returns to Philippines
On November %, 1899, he sailed from
San Francisco on his return TO the
Philippines to continue the fight
against the insurgents. In April, 1900,
with a detachment Of the Saith Volun-
teer Infantry, he captured Baler. a
town on the Pacific side of the island
of Luzon, a little north Of Manila.
On March %, 1901, General Funston
captured Aguinaldo, the leader of the
insurgents, in his secret hiding place
in the province of Isabella, Island Of
Luzon. For this he was promoted, on
March so, to the rank of brigadier gen
eral in the regular army.