New-York tribune., 1918-03-25
General Pershing, Jr., Leads :
Army Like His Famous Dad
Eight -Year-Old Has Four Boy
Privates in Lincoln, Neb.,
to Salute Him

LINCOLN, Neb., March 24.-His aunts
call him Warren, the boys on the
block call him General or Jack indis-
criminately, and Warren Pershing,
eight years old, the only surviving
child of the foremost soldier of the
United States answers to them all. He
is astonishingly like any other eight
year-old youngsrer, considering that
the wife of General Joffre has sent
him replica Of the dress uniform of
a field marshal of France and that
there is constant stream of presents
from other notables.
1t is his fathers purpose to keep
Warren unspoiled, and the generals
sisters. Mrs. D. M. Butler and Miss May
Pershing, who have relieved him of
this one responsibility do their best to
further it.
I'VE don't like to make much of him."
they say. "He is just like other little
boys. He has garden in the summer
and he plays soldier just like the rest.
My brother wants the boy to be demo-
cratic like himself We are glad that
the general has won such distinction,
but it must not interfere with War
ren's every day routine"
He's a Regular Boy
So Warren, Jack or. the General tucks
his pad and books under his arm after
breakfast every morning and hikes off
to public school, where he is in Grade
5A. sings every Sunday in the choir of
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and has
his moments of agony when "peace-
speaking day" comes around and. moro
particularly. when students of Nebraska
University produced the "Pied Piper"
recently and drafted most Of the chill
dren of the city Of ten years old or
younger.
Between these routine events Warren
devotes his time to plans for his war
garden and to the reorganization of his
"army," which became somewhat de-
moralized during the winter months
with their epidemics of cold. The
"army" consists of the General, four
rrivates and Red Cross auxiliary Of
three little girls.
When the General opened his re-
cruiting office on his aunts' lawn last
summer, the Office consisting of camp
chair which accompanied another Gen
\ eral Pershing into Mexico and mill
tary trunk which served as Il desk,
there was an overwhelming rush of re-
| cruits. The physical and mental
standards set by the Small commander
were so high, however that few sue
ceeded in passing the tests.
The commander wears miniature
soldiers uniform. 1t is not one of the
kind that comes fastened to card with
twine nor even a machine-madc Boy
Scouts outfit. 1t is true replica, cut
by military tailor from army olive
drab and carefully fitted to it's owner.
That was present, too, and Warren
wears it almost constantly.
Hat Has the Pershing Tilt
His campaign hat is tilted down a
trif1c over his eyes, just as the other
general wears his and the eyes beneath
1t have something of the others keen
ness and purpose in them. If there is
one thing that marks this boy from his
fellows it is a pu"poseful set to his
features, cast of countenance observ-
able in youthful pictures of General
"Black Jack" Pershing. That express
sion is not without it's significance.
I'm going to be a real soldier when
| grow up, just like my dad is" saws
"the General" when visitors put the
eternal question. "When | grow up Pm
going to West Point-that's where they
make real soldiers. Dad saws that if /
was few years older | could go with
him now and help lick the Germans
and we would lick 'em, too, you bet.
II the war will just last long enough
III be over there, all right"
Every week the general who is "over
there, all right" whatever may be the
new perplexlties and responsibilities 8
that oppress him, finds time to write a
letter to "the General" who isn't vet
"a few years older" One would have to