Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-22

repeatedly outranked West Pointers who
were In school when lie failed of admis-
sion.
Physically. Funston was one Of the
smallest men in the United States army.
He was barely five feet and FIVE inches
tall and usus 'ly wei yhed less than 100
pounds. III civil life he was modest and
retiring.
Washington. Feb. 19.--Major Genera
Furston's sudden death came as a
great shock to high Officials of the
army and to President Wilson He
was one Of the distinguished comman-
ders of the service. and one of whom
greater things were expected in the
future. The youngest major general
of the line, vigorous and apparently
healthful. he had been counted on by
his superiors for many moro years of
active service.
The news reached the war depart
ment late tonight In a brief despatch
from the headquarters of the southern
department saying General Funston
had died Of heart failure. It was tele-
phoned to Secretary Bakers home,
where dinner was being given to the
President with NEST of the ranking
army officers in Washington among
the guests.
Secretary Baker made this statement
tonight on General Funston.
General Funston's death is a loss to
the army and loss to the country. Dur
ing the trouble on the Mexican border his
work has been difficult. exacting and deli
cate. His conduct has been that of a SOL
der. and he has exemplified the high ira
dition Of the American army by his quick,
nd off m.
out 1t all the sympathy Between General
Funston and the department has been
complete and no shadow Of disagreement
has arisen.
Il am deeply grieved personally at his
death and feel that the loss to the country
is very great
Major-General Pershing. who has been
in command of the Ell Paso district since
the withdrawal Of the American expedi-
ton from Mexico automatically will que
coed to the duties of the commander of
the southern department until an appoint
ment has been II ade. Recently made a
major-general. he is the only officer of
that rank now assigned to the depart
ment.
The picturesque and dashing capture
of Aguinaldo. the Filipino rebel chief.
was the achievement which brought Fun
ston prominently to the attention of the
American people, but he performed many
services for his country besides that which
were probably more difficult. His admin
istration of affairs in Vera Cruz, where
he carried out the Presidents order with
a firm hand. simply holding the city when
every influence about him was conferred
upon forcing the American army into
actual fighting with the Mexicans prob
ably was the most notable service of his
career.
Funston. native Of Ohio and reared
on Kansas farm. had a remarkable
career before he became soldier.
Few people know what his first work
was as a scientist with bent toward
botany. AS an agent of the depart
ment of agriculture in 1891 he took
part in the Death Valley expedition
then he explored Alaska and the Brit
ish northwest and crossed Alaska to
the Arctic ocean and travelled from the
mckenzie river to Bering sea-a
journey of about $500 miles He
camped on the Klondike during the
winter OF 1898 and then alone floated
down the Yukon in a canoe, a journey
OF hundreds of miles through wilder
ness without seeing another living
SOUL Soon after that he resigned
from the department Of agriculture and
Travelled IN Mexico.
Wnen the last Cuban Instruction
broke out Funston applied to the rev.
olutionary junta in New York for serv-
Ice with the rebel army. but the
Cubans suspected him of being a spy
or an agent Of the United States run
ning down violations of neutrality
laws. Finally he convinced him of his
intentions and for many weeks, in the
lower East Side of New York, Funston
instructed recruits in the handling of
machine guns. Soon afterward he
was taken into the Cuban army with a
commission.
When he won his rank of brigadier
as a reward for his capture Of Aguin-
aldo. his active service in the regular
United States army began. He speed
lily reached the top of the list Of brig
adiers, but when there were vacancies
in the list OF major-generals he was
passed over no less than six times by
Presidents Roosevelt and Taft. At
times Funston almost despaired Of
further promotion but with character
1stic tenacity he stuck to the army
When Vera Cruz was occupied. Major
General Wood. chief of STAFF, immedi-
ately selected Funston. Every army
onicer expected there would be fight
ing of the hard guerilla kind learned in
the Philippines. and everyone agreed
that when Funston landed in Vera
Cruz he would start something"
But when Funston uploaded his
troops and relieved the navy of pos
session of the city he learned that
President Wilson's orders were that
there was to be no aggressive move
ment; that the army was to watch and
walt The pressure on the little COM
mander was severe.
Every provocation to spur a ghhting
man to action was given. but Funston
never forgot his orders.