The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-08

bandit
Villa. he became the only living officer
in the American army who had com
manded any body of troops so large as
brigade in anything approaching
action. II is true that the late GEN.
eral Funston commanded more than a
brigade on the Vera Cruz expedition.
but Funston's troops never got Into
action.
Got Start in Indian Wars.
From the time PershIng graduated
from West Point in 1886 he had his
full share of active and valuable -serv-
ice in the army. Like his classmates.
he Immediately plunged into the
against the great Apache chief,
Geronimo. who for many years had
kept the great southwestern country
almost closed to immigration by his
skill and bravery. It was in those
campaigns that many of our young
American army officers received that
special training evolved in combat
with the willy savages which proved of
peculiar value in certain phases OF the
highly scientific modern warfare in
France and Belgium.
They were taught the art Of scout
ing. OF trailing and of perfect self
reliance in the school beyond the ken
of any European soldier and many
midnight raid by the Americans into
No Mans Land doubtless found its
inception and clever execution in the
brain OF one of these one-time Indian
fighters of Pershing's type.
Many Early Citations.
It is recorded officially of Pershing
that at the beginning of his career,
for instance, he was complimented by
General Miles, his commander-in-
chief in the Geronimo campaigns, for
marching his troops, with pack train,
over rough country, 140 miles in. 40
hours, bringing in every animal and
man in good condition" Until he
reached command rank Pershing al
ways was a cavalry officer and the
records of the war department show
more than one honorable mention for
his conduct during his ten years serv-
ice in the Department OF Arizona. In
the Spanish war. as an officer of the
Tenth cavalry, he was promoted for
| gallantry at the battle of FL Caney
to be a major in the volunteer army
and after a short detail in Washing
ton in the bureau of insular affairs
was sent out to the Philippines as ad-
| iutant general of the Department OF
Mindanao and Jolo-
That was the turning point In
Pershing's career. He began to take
his profession Of arms more seriously
and to display the powers of concen-
| tration upon difficult problems that
stood him in good stead in the great
campaigns that were to follow in Eu-
/ rome.
and soldierly qualities. Gen. Leonard
Wood. who was his superior officer at
the time, selected Pershing to organ
ize and conduct campaign against
| the Moros who for centuries had sue
cessfully resisted all attempts OF the
Spanish army to subjugate them.
His Career and Woods Alike.
I'm to that point something of par
allel may be found in the careers OF
Wood and Pershing. Each had made
brilliant regulations as Indian fighters
and each had been picked by Presi-
dent Roosevelt for extraordinary pro-
motion. because Of their high promise
of military ability. Roosevelt had
made Wood a brigadier general in
1901 and he made Pershing, then
fcaptain. a brigadier general IN 1905 70
the absolute conformation of the OLD
line of the army because 1t involved
the ''iumping'' of both officers over
many hundreds OF their seniors.
Pershing justified the confidence
that Wood had imposed in him in his
| of Bacalod with unknown thousands
of followers intrenched In the marshes
and mountains OF the tropical islands
behind heavy forts of palm wood, logs
and giant creepers and thorn bushes
/ woven into what was supposed to be
| impregnable defenses. Pershing had
made a study of the conditions and so
we'll had he organized his little force
consisting of a battalion OF infantry,
a squadron of cavalry and a section OF
artillery that in two days the Moro's
strongholds were cleared out and the
Island OF Mindanao was soon placed
under Pershing's military governor
ship.
Was On Villas Trail.
When he returned home in 1917 he
was given but short rest in San
Francisco. Troubles began on the
Mexican border and he was sent there
in command of the Eighth brigade.
charged with special duty Of running
down or driving off Villa. His expe-
dition penetrated many miles into
Mexico and army officers believed