Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-05
MONDAY, MARCH 5. 1917.
BROwNSvILLE'S DISTINGUISHED VS.
ITOR.

Brownsville has the honor today of he
ing hostess to Major General John Joseph
Pershing, commander Of the Southern
Army Department, who j. here ON his first
visit since he became commander of this
division, Few men nave gained greater dis
t~inction whiting comparatively few years
than has General Pershine. Ills career
has been ono IF activity and success NJ
most ever since he graduated at West
Point, for hardly had he obtained his com-
mission as a lieutenant In 1856. than he
was off to the Indian wars, getting his
first actual experience IN his chosen calling
the same year in iightin. Apache Indians,
and a few years later in fighting the Sioux
Indians. His later successes in Cuba and
finally in the Philippines. where he put q
period TO the bloody career of the Moro
Indians. are matters vof such recent his
tory that everyone j. familiar with them.
His anpointrcnt aS q ma jor general. Jump
irg from the rank OF major. was u well
mcritcd ~cward for his fine service in the
Moro crnTr-rN. His more recent exper-
ioncc ~ the head OF the punitive expedition
IN ihc bandit ridden territory of China
hpa, Mexico. marked n new phase of hiS
military career.
II WAS a wise choice that sent General
Per>hing into Mexico under orders 10 go
get Villa T. He did not get the bandit lead
or. because. in all probability, the grim
reaper got ahead of him. Al any rate.
Villa made himself 30 scarce after Gen
araI Par-H6pp pna rod n,.n tho 80
that he was soon lost sight Of completely.
and. in fact. is generally supposed to nave
died in the ravire south Of Parral. where
the last trace of the bandits leader was
lost. But General Pershing'~ mission IN
Mexico WAS = success. for the very pres
cree of his army IN chihuahua served to
quiet the bandits aud aided IN restoring
peace in the northern part of The republic.
That was y most delicate mission. ard the
success with which General Pcr-hing per-
formed il speaks volumes for him ~ y
diplomat. as well a. q soldier. For. had
he been less wise. less diplomatic. IN con
Quoting the punitive expedition. il j. more
than likely that there would have been a
conflict between his army and the Mexi-
cans. who naturally were suspicious and
could not understand the real meaning of
the presence of an American army on Mex
lean soil. His experience in the Cuban
campaign and his experience IN the Phil
ippines. had gwen him an understanding of
the Latin Americans and likewise of the
Character of the Indians. Thus. he was
especially fitted 10 undertake the expedi-
ton which was aimed al a part only Of the
people Of the country into which his army
was led. This was perhaps a far more
diifucult task than ordinary war-making
would nave been. Not only must h. main
tain friendly relations with the Mexican
people. while at the same time going for
the explicit purpose of furnishing the Mex
lean bandit army that raided Columbus.
but also had 10 hold in leash. a. IL were.
many of the men of his own army who
could not discriminate very clearly be-
tween Nillistas and other Mexicans. and
who were hot for revenge against the mur-
dercrs and hooters who had invaded Amcri-
can soil ard committed the outrage al Co
lumbus. He'd Per~hing not hccl trse -
hi- trust. and above al sk.ll4ul aad IT,
sourcefui. the punitive expedition might
have resulted III war with our neighbor re-
public. Probably few can really conceive
the difficulties. the complexities. which
General Pershing had to contend with np-
on that expedition after Villa. which j.
uniaue in the annals of the American army.
Probably there could not have been
found in the entire army an officer better
fitted 10 take charge of the Southern de-
partmenf. A. successor IL the late General
Funston. That he will handle the border
situation with tact and skill goes without
"a yinr. Brownsville, in common. with all
niher points Oh the border, j. glad that