Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-05-31
PERSH|NC COOL,
Brave, STRONG
Fighter From the Beginning
VIII Lead First Force.
HAS HAD EVEHTFUL CAREER
Doesn't Like Mahogany Desks, but ls
Happy on the Field-Won the Sobri-
quet of "Black jack as an Officer of
the Famous Negro Tenth, Which Took
San Juan Blockhouse.

the Famous Negro Tenth, Which Took
San Juan Blockhouse.
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-
peditionary 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 a
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 typifles the ideal cav
airy officer. He has been hardened
by field service physically and has been
broadened in executive service by sew
eral difficult posts 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 his 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 COM
mand ''the finest body of soldiers Of its
size In the world"
General Pershing is fifty-three years
old, and his honors came with a rush
during the last sixteen years. He was
born in Laclede, 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 militaristic 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
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 place
with the negro Tenth. His command
troops Of that expeditionary force, and
he 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 a berth as
the head of the customs and insular
affairs In the war department. But
the life of the bureaucrat was like an
optate 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 as 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
bloodthirsty 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 prescience in his dealings
with the natives that the Moros chose
Pershing to be datto, or ruler. This
Subjugation of fighting race was ac-
complished with the less of but two
American lives.
Pershing is loved by his men and re-
Spected by his SllbOrdinateS "The best