The Washington herald., 1918-06-30


future big pushes against the
kaiser's hordes, is apparent from the
fact that a large number of thor
oughly trained American officers. I'M
der command OF Lieut.. Col W. H.
Clopton, have been recently brought
over from the American tank centers
in France and England. for the pur-
pose OF speeding and intensifying the
training work at Gettysburg.
Additional evidence of this is found
in the fact that the British are for
the first time using tanks in raids.
the death-spitting crawlers having
been used heretofore exclusively in
destroying machine gun nests, en-
filading enemy trenches, and other
wise paving the way for advances.
The first tank raid by the British,
staged on the French front last Sun
day, proved successful to a spectacu-
lar degree, and-well, what the Brit
ish ''tankers'' are now doing, their
American notwithstanding cous-
ms claim they will do on an even
larger scale, when they receive the
command to advance Berlinward.
Col. Rockenback's Record.
Col. Rockenback has been with
Gen. Pershing in France since the
American chief visited the tomb of
Lafayette.
He was an honor graduate Of vir-
ginia Military Institute in 1889: cap
tain in the Missouri National Guard;
commandant Of the Kemper School
at Boonville, and second lieutenant
in the Tenth Cavalry the same year
In 1895. by special act of Congress,
he was given a colonelcy, and made
commandant at the virginia Military
Institute. The special act was neces-
STATED by the fact that he was not
eligible for the position before COM
pleting hve years of service. He
served in the Cree campaign with
Gen. Pershing in 1896, and received
mention for bringing in a large body
of Indians. after a spectacular ride
Of 150 miles in thirty hours.
In October, 1898, after serving In
both the Cuban and Porto Rican
campaigns. he was promoted to first
lieutenant, and later made regimental
adjutant of the Tenth Cavalry. As
an engineer officer in the department
OF Eastern Cuba, he had much to do
with building the Guantanamo auue-
duct, military roads and other i'm
portant public works. Made captain
In the Twelfth Cavalry in February,
1902. and In 1903 was detailed as quar-
termaster to install the Wales and
Lewis system, and erect buildings at
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
In Philippines.
Going to the Philippines the same
year. he served with such ability
that he was made major of Philippine
Scouts in 1905, and in 1909 was ap-
pointed governor of the Cattabato
district Of Mindinao. In July Of the
same year, he was placed in COM
mand Of the Philippine Scouts by
Gen. N. p. Duval, and, after seven
years OF continuous service as major
OF scouts. was detailed to the Army
War College class of 1911.
He was transferred in 1872 from the
Twelfth to the Eleventh Cavalry. and
in 1914 spent sight months on strike
duty with that unit in Colorado. In
September. 1914 he was ordered to
Fort Riley for a field officers course,
but in November was relieved and
detailed as military observer with
the German forces.
In May, 1915, he was made major,
anu assigned 10 the QuartermaSter
Corps. In this capacity he accom-
panied Gen. Pershing to France in
May. 1917, and when the Tank Corps
was organized, Gen. Pershing ap-
pointed him as chief. The COM
mander Of this corps is by law a
brigadier general, and Col. Rocken-
backs promotion Is expected to be
announced shortly. He was selected
as chief Of the Tank Corps after Gen.
Pershing had made thorough search
for an officer with the necessary
qualifications.
welborn's Battle Service.
Outstanding facts in the service
record Of Col. Welborn. who wears a
Congressional Medal of Honor as A
result Of bravery displayed when he
left shelter and under heavy fire
went to the aid Of a wounded prf-
vate Of his command at Santiago,
are:
Appointed to West Point Military
Academy September iss4: commits