El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-24
GEN. PERSHING
CHEERFUL MAN
Seldom Gets Angry, Gives
His Men Square Deal,
Smiles, Not FroWns.

Much newspaper space has been de-
voted during the past few months 10
analyses Of the character Of Maj. Cen
John j. PershinE. commander Of the
American forces Ia France, with a
view, probably. toward determining
his fitness for the Important position
70 which he has been assigned
Thus far have seen nothing in
print which has done Gen. Pershing
justice Many Of the articles have
every evidence upon their faces OF
having been written by men and wom-
en- who had no acquaintance with
either ] ershing the man. or with
Pershing the military officer
Went With Him Into Mexico.
Though ] had known Gen Pershing.
as a reporter comes TO know public
man. from the time Of his arrival In
IL Paso 20 take command Of the troops
on the border early IN 1914. 10 was not
until I went into Mexico with him, in
1916. that I learned TO know him
thoroughly and appreciate him. As
the representative OF the Laftan bu-
reau, as the news gathering agency
Of the New York sun was then known
I was one Of The four correspondents
permitted by the war department TO
accompany the punitive expedition
Busy But Courteous.
During the early days OF the cam
paign Gen Pershing was very busy
man, and we were permitted only
fleeing Elfmpses Of him. owing to his
own activity in the matter Of seeing
that the several pursuing parties,
made Up OF the cavalry contingent OF
che expedition. were kept moving and
1rovisioned as vel as the eElgencles
OF the occasion permitted and that our
TANKS and rear, as well as the rap
idly extending lines Of communication
we're protected from attack
This was in the month OF March and
the weather was cold. Gen Pershing
would come into camp, chilled 10 the
marrow. after long and tiresOme j
horseback ride, or after having COW
cred IOnz stretch Of mountain and
plain in an automobile which he had
communicated or purchased from &
Mormon elder in Colonia Dublan, yet /
he was always ready 10 meet the cor F.
respondents II only 10 pleasantly tell
them be had no news for them
Took SPOT Lucz1 with Men,
He was a thorough soldier at all
times. and az all times democratic I
We went into camp al San Geronimo Z
on the night following the battle OF
wind was blowing a gale, giving as
pretty an exhibition Of BLIZZARD as
have ever witnessed in the Dakotas- ]
We were in the heart Of the euemy's I
country and believed our little band /
OF cavalry was in danger Of attack at I
sny moment We were more than 100 I
miles in advance Of our supply trains, /
and were compelled TO sup on parched 7
corn and such scraps Of bacon as we f.
had saved from the reserve ration d
given US when we left Colonia Dublan, I
several days before
Always Cheerful
We had no bedding, except single .
blanket strapped TO the cautle OF our i
saddle II was not a night nor an I
occasion conducive TO comfort or TO t
good nature. vet Gen Pershing was
the most cheerful man fin the party .
and toasted his bit Of bacon in the r
pan Of a mess kit, and fried bits Of
hard tack IN the bacon grease with F.
much less EruublirE than came from /
ihe lips Of the loWlest private in the 4
ranks
cite this as an evidence OF Gen +
PershinE's disposition 10 make the .
best Of any situation. no matter how .
trying I had seen him at wei served {
5anCuets before and have seen him .
On numerous Joyous occasions since,
but I do not remember ever seeing
him less uuruffled than he was while
eating his bacon and hardtack- as the T.
snow pelted him and the wind howled /
about him on that stormy night at san
Geronimo.
Impatient With Ineompetents.
This does not mean 10 say that I 4
have never seen Gen PershinE moved Z
70 anger. I was in his train in June,
1915. as with members Of his staff.
he made tour OF inspection Of the I
long stretch Of road between Mama
Quipa and the border at Columbus
This was before the movement north
ward had been ordered, or az least be-
fore il had begun
Our wagon trains had been sup
planted By truck trains, but the road Z
was long. there we're thousands OF
men and horses TO be provided with
food and feed and the rainy season
was approaching Gen. PershinE was
anxious that the roads should be in
the best possible condition. in order
that the movement Of supplies might
De facilitated
Occasionally he would find an Off
Ger in charge Of road builders not get
ting the best possible results That {.
officer was sure TO hear something
calculated 10 spur him 10 greater
activity. but invariably the admoni-
ton, while forcible. was cOuched in I
language not calculated 90 offend
On the other hand, officers who
we're living up 10 the standards Of
the American army in the matters Of
efficiency, as Gen Pershiug under
stood them. we're always sure TO be
complimented-
Merit Appreciated.
At Celo1ia Dublani upon one occas-