El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-21

OURS is the only army which has not changed COM
" mande1s in the field several times during this war:
the only army in which chief commander in the field
has not failed to up his job that he had to
be replaced. 1t has been with the armies of Great
Britain with marshal French; France with Gen Petan
and Italy with Gen. Cadorna.
It is true America has not been in the war as long
the other allies; that may partly account for it. Amer-
can arms have not suffered the reverss that have been
the lot Of the other allies from time time the past
years The American commander chief in the field has
not suffered loss of prestige winner is always good
There IS no reason to replace him Opposition to him
sprouts Up when ne not winning; more, when he is
losing.
The fact remains that Gen Pershng the only one of
the allied chief commanders not including marshal Foch
and Gen Hag whose position in the peoples confidence
has grown increasingly with the passage of time
There is every to believe that he viii continue
hold the esteem Of all his fellow countrymen N
the army, and that he viii retain his high until
the last day of the He has the attributes of great
general and he is using his powers to the full defeat
Germany
El Paso very fond Of Gen Pershng because it has
known him IN personal way for long time; knew him
when he here from the Preside of San Francisco
take command during the Mexican trouble; knew him
when he went into Mexico at the head Of the punitive
petition to know him better during the months when
he Mexico with his command; had the pleasure of
welcoming him back from Mexico and Of having him for
few days in command Of this military district after his
turn; babe him pleasant farewell when he assigned
to command the southern department at San Antonio and
congratulated him when he summoned Washington
and given the chief command of American Expeditonary
Forces about to be sent to France.
shore Of France he followed by small staff and
few enlisted personnel The expedtonary force properly
speaking did not begin to arrive until time later 1t
IS with the greatest pleasure that Americans read the
announcement Of Cen March, chief Of the general staff at
Washington that Gen Pershing has 100000 men under
his command at the present time.
Putting these troops in France has been undertaking
which Germany said could be accomplished because
Of the shortage of shipping and the ravages Of the imperial
submarines It viewed with much doubt by the al
lies stuPendous performance hardly possible Of
pshent For the transportation Of the and the vast
amount of supplies Gen. Pershng does not claim credit
That goes the leaders this sde-and millions of hard
working and devoted who not leader-and to the
British and French admIaltes who have provided with
many of the ships
Gen Pershing does deserve credit however for form
ing the mammoth organization which has received, cared
for trained these many hundreds thousands
IN France and has welded them into big and winning
army
fine and discerning appreciation Of Pershing his
performances has been written by the New York Times
which says, in part:
Fame claimed John Pershing when he appointed
command the American army in France in the great
Today his portrait done by Jean Boucher, the off
cial painter hangs the walls of the French army mu
at the lnvadeS fanked by the faces Of soldiers
whom France has always honored Turenne Condo, Mac
ahou and the ilustrious warrior Of all Napoleon
England has bestowed upon American commander the
grand of the Order Of the Bath He already
knight without fear and without reproach An order Of
knighthood could for the of the Missouri
general keeper than West Point had doEe for him
and than he had done for himself
It may have coincidence, but It certainly fe
hctous that president Wilson selected American sol
der Of Asata1 to command armies IN France
ONLY the other day the Association Generate ds Asaciens
Lorraine dAmerque hailed General Pershng, in birthday
congratulations of kin to its members and, said the
telegram to him. eve hope to celebrate shortly with you
in the village of family of Pfloershng the victory Of
civilization and the delvsTance of oppressed peoples
At school he showed aptitude for mathematics, but
was thinking Of the law profession when he heard Of
competition for eadetship at West Point IN his distinct
By one point only he excelled and his made
Long after he graduated from the military academy
nf gave
earv promise of becoming the superb officer he is
known to be- He earnest, ambitious, energetic and
manly"
There was nothing ahead of Second Lieut. Perhing but
Indian campaigns brushes with treacherous Apaches and
v Sioux; and desert to be his home for several
wears He always distinction In Dakota he COM