The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-04-10
The Home Boys in Service.
From Lieut.. W. B. White.

making a military record that is wortl
while is Lieutenant William Blackburn
White, of 74th Infantry, Nogales, Ari
zoan, the son of the late Mrs Emma ii
Skillman and the grandson OF Mrs. Han
nah Hardin, of Holt, Ky and DIR. w
b. White, of Lexington, Ky. He is also
The brother of Frank White, of Hunting
burg, Ind and James T. Skillman, o.
Webster, KY.
lust recently there was published il
Army Navy Journal a notice TO the effec'
that Lieut.. Whites name had been put
before the Senate for promotion to First
Lieutenant, October 26, 1918.
Lieut. White has had very interesting
career for one of his years. He has
travelled extensively and is college bred
He was educated at Vanderbilt Train
ing School, Elkton, Ky Wesleyan Col
lege. Winchester, and Kentucky State
University. Lex nglon, KY, graduating
at the latter institution in 1ol2, receiv-
ing an A. B. degree, He worked in all
the law classes that he was allowed to
carry an extra work.
At the beginning of his Senior year at
the State University, he had 691a credits
and the requirements only called for 90.
At the end of the year he had completed
the works required for an A B. degree.
He took post graduate course in
l9l2 l3, major in history and minor in
conflict of laws; was offered a commits
sion by the Bureau of Ensular Affairs,
War Department, Washington, in the
PHILIPPINE Constabulary, which he ac-
cepted i'll February, l9l3 He sailed
from San Francisco, May rs, 1918, spent
two days at Honolulu, a week in Japan
Conditions in Japan were critical, the
populace demanding war over tue U 5
because OF the land laws passed by the
State of California.
Lieut. White arrived at Manila about
the 18th of June and entered the Officers
School. Baguio, Bengot Province, which
is FIVE thousand feet above the sea level
and climate ideal The intensive train
ing lasted six months.
He was then assigned to Cotabato Pro-
vince, Mindauao, south of Manila.
Shortly after his arrival he was stationed
at Reina Reganto, an old Spanish Fort;
soon transferred to Fort Pikot, thence to
Buluan..
Lieut. White was shortly made Com
pany Commander at Buluan, over three
DAYS distance from a white man. The
Government had been trying for years to
get Datu Lumbong, big wild Buluan
Chief who ruled over more than 1900
wild people in to make friends with him
and his people. Two officers and sixty
or more soldiers attempted to get him,
fight followed and the soldiers had to
move out at night, getting too many
against them Two months after the
fight, the Government and the Command
ing Officer aced Datu Lumbong under
Lieut. Whites control and requested
that he be brought in. He went to Lake
Sebu, the headquarter of Lumbong, with
only IS soldiers, against the advice of
everyone who knew his intentions. He
saw Lumbong, took the tibal oath of
went through the rites of
taking over all his people for the Cow
eminent and turned them back to him
as agent of the Government
Lieut. White then returned to Bu.uan
and notified his superiors that he had
made friends with their man and could
bring him to Cotabato any time, they
would not believe him However on
the named date, he arrived at Cotabato
with Lumbong and Is of his followers,
without any soldiers. He was promoted,
made Deputy Provincial Governor of
cotabato in addition to his other duties,
also Internal Revenue Officer
On account of illness, Lieut.. White
was granted leave of absence to visit the
U. S. He left Manila June IS, IeI6,
stopping in Japan and Honolulu arriving
IN Kentucky in August.
He accepted a position as Comman
liant of Texas Military College, Terral,
Texas, in September, l9l6. He saw that
war was inevitable and resigned the Con-
the following February.
Lieut. White then made up his mind
hat he was better suited for military
profession than any other He was Of
cred Captaincy in the Texas National
Guards to organize a Company of Ma
ines; he accepted and went to work.
lie learned that the time was opportune
o get in the Regular Army so he re
igned from the Guard and went to the
irst Officers Training Camp at Leon
springs, Texas, in May, l9I7. Out of