The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-07

a brigadier general in 1901 and he made
Pershing then a captain, a hrigadier
general in 1906 to the absolute conster.
nation of the old line Of the army be-
cause it involved the jumping" of both
officers over many hundreds of their
seniors.
Pershing justified the confidence that
Wood had imposed in him in his Moro
campaign. There was a Sultan of Ba-
calod with unknown thousands of fol
lowers 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 impreg
nahle defenses. Pershing had made a
study of the conditions and so well had
he organized his little force consisting
of 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 Min
danao was soon placed under Pershing' $
military governorship.
When he returned home in 1914 he
was given but a short rest in san Fran
| cisco Trouble began on the Mexican
| border and he was sent there in com
mand of the Eighth Brigade charged
with the special duty of running down
or driving off Villa. His expedition
pentrated many miles into Mexico and
army officers believed that the ultimate
capture of Villa was prevented only by
recall orders from Washington where
the authorities decided that they We're
unwilling to continue a military policy
seeming certain to involve the United
states in regular war with Mexico.
When Pershing was chosen to com
mand the American forces in France
he took with him many of the Drowned
and hardened veterans Of his Mexican
campaign and these men formed the
nucleus of the famous First division OF
the American ENpediuonary Force.
The Preside Tragedy
\ terrible tragedy had come into
Pershings life during his Mexican bor
der service through the loss of his wi'
and three Of their little children whC
were burned TO death in their home a
the Preside, in san Francisco, during
his absence. His life became hard ant
stern. not towards his soldiers, however
hut in the regiment he imposed upol
himself and in the objects ne had mark
ed for attainment. He threw himscl
into his work with n passion that com
manded success, evidently seeking re
lief from his private grief in public scrv
ice. 1t was said of him in France tina
, he was never tired, he could be callc'
upon any hour out of the "a for consul
? tation or direction without complaint ol
his part. i'm contrast with some of hi
famous colleagues in the entente armies
{ Pershing believed in teamwork; h
knew that whatever success the Ger
mans had attained was through thci
unified command Of the armies Of tn
Central Powers. SO he was not on
, willing but anxious to see the sam
o. principles adopted by the entente Al
mics He sank his private ambition
and freely rendered the services of tn
last American soldier and all his arm
, equipment to General Foch at the mos
: critical point in the campaign. Their
| is sad 10 he no DOUBT lldl MS PNiUlpl
, affected the other commands and wen
r long way towards bringing about tn
unification of the Eentente armies "
, der Marshal Foch
1t was not until Pershing was certai
, that the plans he had made with tn
> assistance of his own staff for SUI
cessful campaign into Alsace-Lorrain
I had behind them the support Of "a su
/, ficient number Of American soldier
he that Pershing felt justified in tahin
. complete command Of an important SCI
= tor Of the line Of battle with the fu
z assent Of Marshal Foch and with the r.
= suit that the American army broke III
. morale of the Germans and brought III
! war to an end
r For what he did in Europe Pershin
. has been praised beyond measure by IN
: greatest rulers and soldiers of I'll
T. world who have been glad to welcom
T him and press his hand.