The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-27
OIL R FIRST AR MY
CORPS COMMANDER
ON FIGHTING FRONT

Washington, D. c., July 26. - "A
soldier of the type found in fiction OF
knighthood days; gentle, and with rare
graces, and yet one Of the toughest
propositions in the field that the coun-
try has ever known"
Such is the description given by an
army associate of Major General Hun
ter Liggett, the field commander Of the
first American army corps which, is
the language Of the street, has been
giving Germans in their recent big
drive "all that was coming to them"
b Relatively few Americans ever heard
Of Hunter Liggett, or remembered ever
hearing OF him, until his name sud-
denly doomed big in the news a short
time ago as commander OF the first
American army corps organized in
France-the force that has done its
full share Of the hard fighting in block
ing the road of the Huns to Paris.
Yet ever since he came out Of West
Point, when 22 years OF age, Gen. Lig-
gett has been living and fighting bat
ties that flt him prominently to deal
with the Kaiser's hordes. He made an
excellent record in the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, both in Cuba and the Philip
pines. Later he displayed brains as
Well as bravery in handling affairs
dlOIf6 q oCCtlOa VI LiIC NISAlSdu
when Villa was at the apex Of mis-
career and war. between the United
States and Mexico seemed imminent
1t was for all these things that Presi-
dent Wilson promoted him to the rank
of major-general and sent him over
to France as right-hand man to Cen
eral Pershing.
'"Liggett luck is a phrase often heard
among army officers when the name
of the now famous commander has
been mentioned. The phrase is not
used to belittle Gen. Liggett's achieve
ments, but to indicate faith, that he
will always get there" in he future
as in the past. When he was Maj. Lig-
gett he was in command Of battalion
that leaky old transport carried. or
tried to carry. to the Philippines. When
the ship was all but sinking, help
reached it and saved those on board.
An eyewitness has told how the
soldiers. ''waist-deep in the water OF
the hold, were pumping and battling for
dear life. and right in the midst of
them, giving grim determined aid as
we'll as direction, stood a tall, powerful
man, with the jaw of a swapping Iur-
tie and obvious disposition of one who
would not unduy hurry il he was about
to catch the last train for heaven"
That officer was Maj. Liggett. and ne
won promotion for his work in the
next two years among the Moros. An
other officer who was engaged in the
same task at the same time was Col.
John ]. Pershing. The two formed
fast friendship at that time, and it is
extremely probable that the selection
OF Gen. Liggett for his present COM
mand was due to a personal request
from Gen. Pershing, who naturally de-
sired that his chief aid in France should
be an officer with whose capabilities
he was already acquainted.
The reputation achieved by Maj Lig
.gett in the Philippines led to his APP
pointment. following his retHrn to the
United States, to become president of
the War College in Washington.
Reading, Pa. was Gen. Liggett's
birthplace After receiving the custo-
mary public school training he was APP
pointed to the United States Military
Academy and was graduated in the
class of 1879. During the 10 years of
his military career his service has been
mainly with the infantry arm.